A central pattern generator in the spinal cord for the central control of micturition: An opportunity for first-in-class drug treatments

Abstract

For non-neuroscientists, the spinal cord is often considered simply as a relay between the brain and peripheral organs such as the skin, smooth muscles, and skeletal muscles. However, its gray matter has also been shown to play a pivotal role in the control of stereotyped motor behaviors. Neuroscientists have indeed clearly shown recently that the spinal cord contains command centers also known as central pattern generators. Those spinal centers have been found to elicit, inhibit or modulate locomotion, ejaculation, defecation and micturition. This short communication briefly outlines the main characteristics of the central pattern generator for micturition and how it could become a therapeutic target for innovative drugs against micturition-related problems.