Japan Society for the Promotion of Science:Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research
Date (from‐to) : 2020/04 -2023/03
Author : Hashitani Hikaru
Aberrant spontaneous phasic contractions of the detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) could cause excessive mechanical stimulations to bladder afferent nerves leading to urinary urgency. PTHrP, an endogenous relaxant, diminishes bladder afferent nerve firing by suppressing DSM contractility even under the influence of excitatory parasympathetic nerve activity during the bladder storage phase. Nitrergic nerves projecting to microvessels in the lower urinary tract (LUT) counteract with sympathetic vasoconstrictions that could diminish LUT blood flow. Thus, neurally-released NO presynaptically reduces sympathetic neurotransmitter release and also directly relaxes arteriolar smooth muscle resulting in vasodilatation. Pharmacological enhancement of PTHrP-induced DSM relaxation and/or nitrergic signalling pathways could be a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms.