Nocturnal enuresis and the pontine reticular formation

Objectives: To assess the previously proposed hypothesis that enuretic pati ents have a dysfunction in the pontine reticular formation. Methods: In 18 patients with intractable nocturnal enuresis, rapid eye move ment (REM)-related phasic chin muscle activity loss in REM sleep was examin ed by means of a single-night polysomnography. Results: In 5 of 18 patients, this physiologically seen phenomenon was foun d to be disturbed. Conclusions: Since REM-related phasic chin muscle activity loss is disturbe d by the functional impairment in the pontine reticular formation, some enu retic patients could be considered as presenting a dysfunction in this stru cture. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.