Adrenoceptors in the Lower Urinary Tract

Abstract

Adrenoceptors importantly contribute to the physiological regulation of lower urinary tract (LUT) function and have become a target of several clinically successful treatments for major LUT diseases. In the bladder dome, β-adrenoceptor subtypes are found in multiple cell types and mediate relaxation of detrusor smooth muscle, perhaps partly indirectly by acting on afferent nerves and cells of the mucosa. β₃-adrenoceptor agonists such as mirabegron and vibegron are used to treat overactive bladder syndrome. In the bladder trigone and urethra, α₁-adrenoceptors cause contraction and thereby physiologically contribute to bladder outlet resistance. α₁-adrenoceptors in the prostate also cause contraction and pathophysiologically elevate bladder outlet resistance leading to voiding dysfunction in benign prostatic hyperplasia. α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist such as tamsulosin is widely used as a first-line option to treat LUT symptoms in men, but it remains unclear to which extent and how smooth muscle relaxation contributes to symptom relief.

Keywords: Prostate; Ureter; Urethra; Urinary bladder; α1-Adrenoceptor; β-Adrenoceptor.