Yan Junan, Gao Ziyan, Li Xianping, Li Jun, Yuan Chunhui, Liang Shanshan, Li Jun, Deng Guoxian, Yin Lingxuan, Pang Shutong, Shao Wei, Xia Xiaowen, Zhu He, Yao Jiwei
Center for Neurointelligence, School of Medicine, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
Department of Urology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China.
Commun Biol. 2025 Apr 21;8(1):639. doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-08069-w.
Urination, a fundamental physiological process, is intricately regulated by central neural circuits. The periaqueductal gray (PAG) is a critical hub for urination control, yet the specific neuronal subtypes involved remain undefined. Here, we identified somatostatin (SST)-expressing neurons in the lateral and ventrolateral PAG (l/vlPAG) as key regulators of urination. SST neurons in the l/vlPAG exhibited activity closely aligned with urination onset in freely moving animals. Optogenetic activation of these neurons reliably triggered urination and bladder contraction, whereas their acute inhibition at urination onset halted ongoing urination. Moreover, activation of l/vlPAG SST neurons projecting to the pontine micturition center (PMC) elicited urination and bladder contraction, effects that were absent following pelvic nerve transection. These findings reveal that l/vlPAG SST neurons regulate urination through the PAG-PMC pathway, providing new insights into bladder control and potential therapeutic targets for bladder dysfunction.
排尿是一种基本的生理过程，受到中枢神经回路的复杂调节。导水管周围灰质（PAG）是排尿控制的关键枢纽，但其中涉及的特定神经元亚型仍不明确。在这里，我们确定了外侧和腹外侧PAG（l/vlPAG）中表达生长抑素（SST）的神经元是排尿的关键调节因子。在自由活动的动物中，l/vlPAG中的SST神经元表现出与排尿开始密切相关的活动。对这些神经元进行光遗传学激活可可靠地引发排尿和膀胱收缩，而在排尿开始时对它们进行急性抑制则会停止正在进行的排尿。此外，投射到脑桥排尿中枢（PMC）的l/vlPAG SST神经元的激活会引发排尿和膀胱收缩，在盆腔神经横断后这些效应消失。这些发现揭示了l/vlPAG SST神经元通过PAG-PMC途径调节排尿，为膀胱控制提供了新的见解，并为膀胱功能障碍提供了潜在的治疗靶点。
