The ultrastructure of bladder lamina propria nerves in healthy subjects and patients with detrusor hyperreflexia.

Abstract

We described and measured ultrastructural characteristics of human bladder lamina propria nerves. The mean profile diameter is larger in patients with tropical spastic paraparesis compared to controls and patients with multiple sclerosis. This study provides a baseline to which other bladder disorders can be compared and may allow the effect of intravesical treatments on these nerves to be assessed. Some possible functional aspects of observed structural interrelationships are presented.