The Contractile Properties of Isolated Human Detrusor Muscle – Effect of Age, Gender and Pathology

Hypothesis / aims of study Hypothesis: The in vitro contractile properties of isolated human detrusor smooth muscle are a function of patient age, gender and lower urinary tract symptoms. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) increase in prevalence with age [1] and common urodynamic observations associated with LUTS include detrusor overactivity (DO). Some studies [2], although not all, also suggest that LUTS are more prevalent in women [2]. The purpose of the study was to determine if human detrusor smooth muscle contractility, as assessed by stimulating the muscle with a number of paradigms, was also a function of the age or gender of the patient. Furthermore, were contractile properties different when obtained from patients with stable, overactive or obstructed bladders? Previous studies used relatively small numbers of samples, so that actual differences could be masked in the face of many confounding variables. The study aimed to analyse data from a large number of samples (n>200) to determine if changes to muscle physiology were associated with patient age, gender or bladder pathology to guide therapeutic options in managing the clinical conditions.