Differences in the development of autogenous nerves between the upper and lower urinary tract

Abstract

The aim of this study was to observe the development and distribution of autogenous nerves in the urinary tract of New Zealand rabbits. Animals of various ages were used in this study, including 2, 3 and 3.5 weeks (gestational ages) and 1, 4, 8 and 12 weeks (postnatal). Samples were selected at various sites of the urinary tract. Immunohistochemical staining methods were used to investigate the nervous plexus and neuroganglia on the wall of the urinary tract. Myenteric plexuses and ganglia first appeared at the gestational age of 3 weeks. They decreased in the pelvis and ureter as the animals developed, until at the end of postnatal week 8, all nerves disappeared completely. However, nerves existed in the bladder and posterior urethra permanently. The development and distribution of myenteric nerves is different between the upper and lower part of the urinary tract. Our study aimed to investigate this further.