The urothelium is a multifunctional tissue that not only acts as a barrier between the vesical contents of the lower urinary tract and the underlying tissues but also acts as a sensory organ by transducing physical and chemical stresses to the attendant afferent nervous system and underlying smooth muscle. This review will consider the nature of the stresses that the urothelium can transduce; the transmitters that mediate the transduction process; and how lower urinary pathologies, including overactive bladder syndrome, painful bladder syndrome and bacterial infections, are associated with alterations to this sensory system. In particular, the role of muscarinic receptors and the TRPV channels system will be discussed in this context. The urothelium also influences the contractile state of detrusor smooth muscle, both through modifying its contractility and the extent of spontaneous activity; potential pathways are discussed. The potential role that the urothelium may play in bladder underactivity is introduced, as well as potential biomarkers for the condition that may cross the urothelium to the urine. Finally, consideration is given to vesical administration of therapeutic agents that influence urinary tract function and how the properties of the urothelium may determine the effectiveness of this mode of delivery.
Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science
4
6%
Neuroscience
3
5%
Other
11
17%
Unknown
22
34%
Attention Score in Context
Attention Score in Context
This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 07 February 2012.
All research outputs
#19,345,436
of 24,633,436 outputs
Outputs from Neurourology and Urodynamics
#1,693
of 2,219 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#200,880
of 255,139 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Neurourology and Urodynamics
#9
of 25 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 24,633,436 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 18th percentile – i.e., 18% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 2,219 research outputs from this source. They typically receive a little more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 5.9. This one is in the 17th percentile – i.e., 17% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 255,139 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 19th percentile – i.e., 19% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 25 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 20th percentile – i.e., 20% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
