title: Overactive bladder and pontine reticular formation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The etiology of overactive bladder (OAB) remains unclear. Observed neurogenic factors in the literature are limited to suprapontine or spinal pathologies. The blink reflex is a useful tool in the evaluation of brainstem functions. Blink reflex latency times were evaluated in order to reveal pathology in the brainstem.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 60 women, 30 patients with idiopathic OAB and 30 healthy controls, were enrolled in the study. Blink reflex latency times were analyzed by electrical stimulation of the supraorbital nerve. Two responses in the orbicularis oculi muscle, early ipsilateral response (R1) and late bilateral response (R2) latency times, were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ages of the patients and controls were 51.9 ± 5.3 and 49.2 ± 6.2 years, respectively. R2 latency times were significantly higher in patients than in controls. However, R1 latency times were similar between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study suggest a significant relation between late blink latency times and OAB. An oligosynaptic path via the trigeminal nuclei is responsible for R1; however, R2 response is relayed through the reticular formation. Stimulation of pontine reticular formation inhibits micturition contraction. In some patients, idiopathic OAB may result from reticular formation-originated pathology. Additional studies on other reticular formation-mediated reflexes are needed to reveal possible dysfunction of reticular formation.
authors.affiliation: Department Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Rize, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orhan Ünal
authors.initials: OÜ
authors.lastname: Zorba
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kırbaş
authors.forename: Hakkı
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cetinkaya
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Önem
authors.forename: Mehmet Murat
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Rifaioğlu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001767:Blinking; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053201:Urinary Bladder, Overactive / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014554:Urination