A role for pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) in detrusor hyperreflexia after spinal cord injury (SCI).

Intrathecal administration of the PAC1 receptor antagonist, PACAP6-38 (10 nM), significantly (P < or = 0.05) reduced intermicturition, threshold and micturition pressures in chronic (3-6 weeks) spinal cord injured rats but intravesical administration (100-300 nM) was without effect. Intrathecal PACAP6-38 reduced the number and amplitude of nonvoiding bladder contractions observed after spinal cord injury (SCI). PACAP may contribute to detrusor hyperreflexia induced by SCI and PACAP antagonists may be a novel approach to reduce detrusor hyperreflexia after SCI.