We investigated whether primary afferent neurons innervating different regions of the lower urinary tract have different histochemical and electrophysiological properties. Neurons in @entity35 L6-S1 DRG were identified by axonal transport of a fluorescent dye. Neurofilament-negative @entity7183 cells comprise approximately 70% of bladder and proximal urethral afferent neurons that send axons through the pelvic nerves, but comprise a smaller proportion (51%) of distal urethral neurons that send axons through the pudendal nerves. Isolectin-B4 (IB4) binding was detected in a higher percentage (49%) of @entity7183 neurons innervating the distal urethra than in those innervating the bladder or proximal urethra (18-22%). Neurofilament-positive A-fiber neurons innervating the distal urethra had a larger average somal size than neurons innervating the bladder or proximal urethra. In patch-clamp recordings, the majority (70%) of bladder and proximal urethral neurons were sensitive to @entity2951 and exhibited @entity4524 -resistant, high-threshold action potentials, whereas a smaller proportion (53%) of distal urethral neurons exhibited @entity4524 -resistant spikes. T-type @entity141 currents were observed in 47% of distal urethral neurons with @entity4524 -sensitive spikes, but not in @entity4524 -sensitive bladder or proximal urethral neurons. In summary, afferent neurons innervating bladder or proximal urethra differ from those innervating distal urethra. The latter, which more closely resemble cutaneous afferent neurons, consist of a smaller number of @entity7183 neurons containing a higher percentage of IB4-positive cells and a more diverse population of A-fiber neurons, some of which exhibit T-type @entity141 channels. These differences may be related to different functions of respective target organs in the lower urinary tract.

Histological and electrical properties of XXXX dorsal root ganglion neurons innervating the lower urinary tract.

@entity2951 :: ('MESH:D002211', 'Chemical') :: ['capsaicin'] @entity141 :: ('CHEBI:29108', 'Chemical') :: ['Ca2+'] @entity4524 :: ('CHEBI:9506', 'Chemical') :: ['TTX'] @entity7183 :: ('10185', 'Species') :: ['C-fiber'] @entity35 :: ('10116', 'Species') :: ['rat']
@entity35 :: (10116,Species) :: ['rat']
