Mechanosensitive Ion Channels in Bladder Sensory Transduction

The lower urinary tract constantly sends mechanosensory information to the central nervous systems. In the storage phase, mechanical stretch stimulates bladder afferents. These signals generate sensations and trigger voiding responses. However, the precise mechanisms by which mechanical stimuli excite bladder afferents remain to be explored. For mechanosensory transduction, the presence of mechanosensors is essential in the peripheral sensory systems, including sensory nerve endings and the urothelium. There is increasing evidence that mechanosensitive ion channels, such as epithelial Na+ channels and transient receptor potential channel A1, play key roles in the mechanosensory transduction of the urinary bladder.