The external urethral sphincter (EUS), composed of skeletal and smooth muscle, has a crucial role in maintaining continence during bladder filling and facilitating urine flow during voiding. Disruption of this complex activity has profound consequences on normal lower urinary tract function during the micturition cycle. However, relatively little is known about the normal and pathological functions of these particular muscle types, how activity can be manipulated and regulated and why, for example, loss of EUS function and sarcopenia is associated with ageing. The aim of the workshop is to address these gaps in our knowledge and identify potential therapeutic targets and strategies that might normalise EUS function. The faculty comprises a neurourologist who investigates abnormal EUS activity and laboratory scientists who study the fundamental electrical, contractile and metabolic functions of lower urinary tract muscular tissues.
Who will be interested in this round-table?
Health professionals with an interest in understanding the basis of pathological changes to the micturition cycle and investigative scientists interested in muscle pathophysiology.
| Topic |
Speaker |
| Introduction |
Karen McCloskey, PhD – Queen’s University Belfast, UK |
| Muscular tissues of the urethra |
Karen McCloskey, PhD – Queen’s University Belfast, UK |
| Metabolic, contractile and electrophysiological properties of the rhabdosphincter |
Christopher Fry, PhD - University of Bristol, UK |
| Electromyography and the external urethral sphincter – changes with disease. |
Jalesh Panicker, DM FRCP – University College London, UK |
| Animal models of in vivo EUS function |
Anthony Kanai, PhD – University of Pittsburgh, USA |
| Age-related changes and potential therapies. |
Hikaru Hashitani, MD, PhD – Nagoya City University, Japan |
| Summary and Discussion |
Christopher Fry, PhD - University of Bristol, UK |