The Role of Apoptosis in Detrusor Contractility

Apoptosis has been found in bladder affected by various types of voiding dysfunction. In animal studies, higher levels of apoptosis were observed in conditions of both detrusor overactivity and underactivity than in normal bladders. However, it has been difficult to establish the exact underlying mechanism of apoptosis in these conditions and to find new therapeutic targets because the causes of voiding dysfunction are diverse and the coexistence of various types of voiding problems is common. Furthermore, the lack of studies of the human detrusor contributes to our incomplete understanding of these issues. Therefore, this revies discuss the role of apoptosis in detrusor contractility based on previous studies.