Potential therapeutic targets for treatment of the overactive bladder

Muscarinic receptor antagonists remain the main therapy for the treatment o f the overactive bladder yet severe adverse effects make them unsuitable fo r a large number of patients. The development of new drugs with novel mecha nisms of action for the treatment of this condition is therefore essential. This article considers some of the targets currently under investigation f or the development of such compounds. beta -adrenoceptor agonists and K-ATP channel openers inhibit detrusor muscle activity and remain targets for dr ug development. There is also evidence that alpha -adrenoceptor antagonists may be effective in the overactive bladder, but the mechanism involved in this action is unclear. Finally the role of tachykinins in regulating bladd er function through both the sensory and the motor innervation make them a potential target for drug development, but as with the the others, a select ive action on the bladder must remain the goal of drug development.