Do the urinary bladder and large bowel interact, in sickness or in health?: ICI-RS 2011^†‡

Normal functioning of the urinary bladder and the distal gut is an essential part of daily physiological activity coordinated by the peripheral and central nervous systems. Pathological changes in one of these organs may induce the development of cross-organ sensitization in the pelvis and underlie clinical co-morbidity of genitourinary and GI dysfunctions. Experimental human and animal data suggest that the bladder and distal colon interact under both normal and pathological conditions, however, the directions of these interactions can change dramatically depending on the nature and duration of the applied stimuli. This review article aimed to summarize the clinical data on colon–bladder cross-reflexes in healthy individuals, as well as in patients with co-morbid disorders. It also discusses currently used animal models, experimental approaches, and suggested mechanisms of colon–bladder cross-talk. Additionally, it provides an overview of the potential pharmacological targets to develop treatment options for patients with co-morbid disorders. Presented work resulted from the discussion of colon/bladder interactions during “Think Tank 9” presentations at the International Consultation on Incontinence Research Society meeting held in Bristol, UK, 2011. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:352–358, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.