Original Article
Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 561–564; doi:10.1038/sc.2008.165; published online 23 December 2008
Expression of purinergic P2X2-receptors in neurogenic bladder dysfunction due to spinal cord injury: a preliminary immunohistochemical study
J Pannek1, S Janek1, F Sommerer2 and A Tannapfel2
- 1Department of Urology and Neurourology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Marienhospital Herne, Germany
- 2Institute of Pathology, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany
Correspondence: Professor J Pannek, Chefarzt Neuro-Urologie, Schweizer Paraplegiker-Zentrum, Guido A Zäch Strasse 1, Ch – 6207 Nottwil, Switzerland. E-mail: juergen.pannek@paranet.ch
Received 25 August 2008; Revised 10 November 2008; Accepted 22 November 2008; Published online 23 December 2008.
Abstract
Study design:
Retrospective descriptive study.
Objective:
Although muscarinic receptors are the main targets for the treatment of detrusor overactivity today, anticholinergic therapy is not satisfying in a substantial percentage of patients. Recently, overexpression of P2X2 receptors in patients with idiopathic overactive bladder was demonstrated, indicating that purinergic innervation may play an important role in the pathophysiology of detrusor overactivity. We evaluated the expression of P2X2 receptors in patients with spinal cord lesions.
Setting:
German university hospital.
Methods:
By immunohistochemical staining, the frequency and intensity of P2X2 expression in bladder specimens from 15 patients with suprasacral spinal cord lesion were compared to those from 11 patients with bladder disorders not related to spinal cord injury (overactive bladder: n=6; chronic non-obstructive retention: n=2; bladder tumour: n=3).
Results:
Specimens (12/15) from patients with spinal cord lesions and specimens (8/11) without spinal cord lesions demonstrated staining for P2X2 receptors in the detrusor muscle and the urothelium. There was a tendency towards a stronger staining in specimens from patients with spinal cord lesion.
Conclusion:
Our pilot study gives a first hint that the P2X2 expression in patients with suprasacral spinal cord injury seems to be comparable to the expression in patients with idiopathic overactive bladder. Therefore, P2X2 receptors in detrusor tissue may be a future target for the treatment of detrusor overactivity.
Keywords:
neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction, spinal cord injury, purinergic receptors, innervation
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