title: Retrograde double-labeling demonstrates convergent afferent innervation of the prostate and bladder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prostatic inflammation is a common histologic finding in men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). It has been postulated that prostatic inflammation could sensitize afferent neurons innervating the bladder and thereby produce changes in voiding behavior. In support of this, we demonstrate an anatomic basis for pelvic cross-talk involving the prostate and bladder.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrograde labeling was performed by an application of a neuro-tracer Fast Blue (FB) to one side of either the anterior prostate (AP), dorsal lateral prostate (DLP)/ventral prostate (VP), bladder, or seminal vesicle (SV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examination of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neuron labeling revealed shared afferent innervation of the prostate and bladder at spinal segments of T13, L1, L2, L6, and S1. Dual labeling was performed by an application of FB and 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyaine perchlorate (DiI) to the AP and bladder, respectively. We observed double-labeled DRG neurons at T13, L1, L2, L6, and S1--a finding that proves convergent innervation of prostate and bladder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations demonstrate the potential for neural cross-talk between the prostate and bladder and support a postulated mechanism that prostatic inflammation may induce hyper-sensitization of bladder afferents and produce irritative LUTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.|Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Sanghee
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Guang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.|Carbone Cancer Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin.
authors.forename: Wade
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bushman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D059411:Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011467:Prostate / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000294:innervation* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: bladder innervation; dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons; lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS); neural cross-talk; prostate innervation