Role of bladder afferent nerve in the overactive bladder / 医学研究生学报

As with all neurologic reflex mechanisms,efferent activity is brought about by afferent input. Furthermore, the superimposed voluntary control, which is a critical feature of social continence, is largely determined by sensations of bladder fullness. In recent years, interest in the pathophysiology of urinary incontinence has shifted from a focus on the detrusor muscle to the afferent innervation of the bladder. In this respect, it is notable that investigations of detrusor muscle function are often performed in the absence of an intact urothelium and lamina propria, along with their sensory innervation. This review will summarize the results from recent animal and human experiments.