title: The Role of Nitric Oxide and Hydrogen Sulfide in Urinary Tract Function.
abstract: This MiniReview focuses on the role played by nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in physiology of the upper and lower urinary tract. NO and H2S, together with carbon monoxide, belong to the group of gaseous autocrine/paracrine messengers or gasotransmitters, which are employed for intra- and intercellular communication in almost all organ systems. Because they are lipid-soluble gases, gaseous transmitters are not constrained by cellular membranes, so that their storage in vesicles for later release is not possible. Gasotransmitter signals are terminated by falling concentrations upon reduction in production that are caused by reacting with cellular components (essentially reactive oxygen species and NO), binding to cellular components or diffusing away. NO and, more recently, H2S have been identified as key mediators in neurotransmission of the urinary tract, involved in the regulation of ureteral smooth muscle activity and urinary flow ureteral resistance, as well as by playing a crucial role in the smooth muscle relaxation of bladder outlet region. Urinary bladder function is also dependent on integration of inhibitory mediators, such as NO, released from the urothelium. In the bladder base and distal ureter, the co-localization of neuronal NO synthase with substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide in sensory nerves as well as the existence of a high nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase activity in dorsal root ganglion neurons also suggests the involvement of NO as a sensory neurotransmitter.
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors: Vítor S
authors: VS
authors: Fernandes
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain. medardo@ucm.es.
authors: Medardo
authors: M
authors: Hernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D009411:Nerve Endings / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000098:blood supply / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D014553:Urinary Tract Physiological Phenomena
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006862:Hydrogen Sulfide