DECREASED INNERVATION OF THE PARAURETHRAL EPITHELIUM IN STRESS URINARY INCONTINENT WOMEN

Objective: To determine whether there is a difference in the innervati on of the paraurethral vaginal epithelium between stress urinary incon tinent women of fertile age and comparable controls. Methods: Transvag inal biopsies close to the external orifice of the urethra were obtain ed from 11 stress urinary incontinent women and from ten comparable co ntrols. The specimens were processed for indirect immunohistochemistry using protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) as a general neuronal marker . From each biopsy, ten randomly selected fields of 1 mm(2) projected area were investigated and nerve fibre profiles were quantificated in a microscope equipped with light- and dark-field optics. Results: Nerv e fibre profies/mm(2) of projected epithelial area were significantly lower in the incontinent group than in the control group (P < 0.01). C onclusion: Our study indicates that stress urinary incontinent women h ave a significantly lower total innervation of the paraurethral vagina l epithelium than continent controls. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd.