Local effects of antimuscarinics

Urol Clin North Am. 2006 Nov;33(4):511-8, ix-x. doi: 10.1016/j.ucl.2006.06.011.

Abstract

Overactive bladder (OAB) syndrome has been estimated to occur in nearly 17% of the population. The most common drug treatments for OAB are antimuscarinic agents that act to increase bladder capacity and decrease the urge to urinate during the storage phase. An increasing number of studies have focused on te role and mechanism of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors for the regulation of afferent activity during urine storage. Interactions between muscarinic receptors in the urothelium, afferent nerves, or myofibroblasts and locally released acetylcholine might be involved in the emergence of detrusor overactivity and OAB. Therefore, antimuscarinic agents may be effective in treating OAB not only by suppression of muscarinic receptor-mediated detrusor muscle contractions but also by modulation of muscarinic receptor-bladder afferent interactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • Muscarinic Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Receptors, Muscarinic / drug effects
  • Urinary Bladder, Overactive / drug therapy*

Substances

  • Muscarinic Antagonists
  • Receptors, Muscarinic