ABSTRACT
There are multiple mechanisms, some proven in concept but others more theoretical, through
which a pharmacologic effect could facilitate bladder filling/urine storage. These include peripheral and central motor (efferent) and sensory (afferent) sites of action. Clinical uropharmaco-
logy of the lower urinary tract is based primarily on an appreciation of the innervation and
receptor content of the bladder, the bladder outlet, and their related anatomic structures. The
drugs or classes of drugs used for therapy of lower urinary dysfunctions were, in general,
developed originally for their actions on other organ systems whose functions are controlled or
affected by innervation or drug receptor interaction. The targets of pharmacologic intervention
in the bladder body, base, or outlet include specific nerve terminals that alter the release a variety
of neurotransmitters, receptors and receptor subtypes, cellular second-messenger systems, and
ion channels. Peripheral nerves and ganglia, spinal cord, and supraspinal areas are also sites of
action of some agents to be discussed.
