Neurochemicals in the control of human bladder function [ 2001 - 2003 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Kate Moore (Principal investigator) ,  Prof Elizabeth Burcher

Brief description The problem of urinary incontinence has received little attention from the medical and scientific research community until the last 10-15 years. Urinary incontinence can cause severe distress and is a taboo subject, even though it affects 30-40% of women. Public figures speak out about their experiences with breast cancer or heart disease, but not about leakage of urine. Elderly people with incontinence are forced into nursing homes, with major costs to the community. Incontinence is a major clinical problem: although over 800 new patients per annum are seen at our Pelvic Floor Unit, the waiting time for a first appointment is 14-15 weeks. There are four main types of urine leakage: - stress incontinence (weak pelvic floor muscles); - overflow incontinence (seen in men with prostatic hypertrophy); - sensory urgency (frequent, uncomfortable desire to urinate); and - detrusor instability (bladder muscle spasms with leakage). We are primarily interested in detrusor instability and sensory urgency, which cause 35% of incontinence in general, but up to 85% of cases in the elderly. Patients suffer from an urgent desire to visit the toilet frequently, and may leak urine if they cannot reach the toilet quickly. Unlike stress incontinence, it cannot be corrected by pelvic floor surgery. Drug treatment is often unsuccessful, with many unacceptable side effects. In our research group, we have found that the sensory nerve which convey the sensation of bladder fullness, are overabundant and display increased amounts of neurochemicals. Our studies in isolated bladder muscle from these patients have shown abnormalities in responsiveness. Thus bladder from women with urge incontinence is resistant to drugs which abolish contraction in normal bladder. In this project we plan to find out why such changes occur. We will use new techniques to study bladder nerves and the receptors which convey the message to contract the bladder muscle.

Funding Amount $AUD 196,018.36

Funding Scheme NHMRC Project Grants

Notes Standard Project Grant