Pharmacology and Physiology of the Lower Urinary Tract
Pharmacology and Physiology of the Lower Urinary Tract
The function of the lower urinary tract is simple - urine storage and voiding. However,
 despite this simplicity of function, the control of the lower urinary tract is a rather
 complex, multilevel process (urothelium, detrusor, peripheral nerves, spinal cord and higher
 cerebral centres) and the mechanisms involved remain poorly elucidated.

 This study is designed to gain a more in depth understanding of the lower urinary tract
 function. Using bladder biopsies, tissue staining for characteristic markers present on
 nerves and other cells will be performed. We hypothesize that certain markers are altered in
 disease and turn back towards the control level of healthy people or patients with successful
 medical treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction

 -  Controls with normal lower urinary tract function

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Age < 18 years old

 -  Pregnancy