The molecular pathways behind bladder stretch injury

Abstract

Stretch injury is a non-reversible process that changes the cellular and extracellular characteristics of the bladder wall, leading to bladder dysfunction. Posterior urethral valve and neurogenic bladder are examples of disorders that may lead to stretch injury. There is a lack of understanding of the molecular processes leading to stretch injury. The current literature is reviewed in this paper, with the aim of giving some insight into the molecular and genetic pathways of bladder stretch injury.