Afferent fibers of the pudendal nerve modulate sympathetic neurons controlling the bladder neck

Abstract

Pudendal nerve stimulation evoked somatic responses in the EUS and autonomic responses in the smooth muscle sphincter controlling the BN. Longer latencies of the BN responses and the sensitivity to the alpha-blocking agent phentolamine suggest that sympathetic alpha-adrenergic fibers are involved. Somatic afferent fibers of the pudendal nerve are supposed to project on sympathetic thoracolumbar neurons to the BN and modulate their function. This neuromodulative effect works exclusively at the spinal level and appears to be at least partly responsible for BN competence and at least continence.