Locus Coeruleus Function in Enuresis

Abstract

There are four neuronal networks projecting to many areas of the brain. All networks relate closely to arousal and sleep function. Among the four networks, the noradrenaline projection network, originating from the locus coeruleus (LC), is the system most typically responsible for arousal. This study shows that the LC is activated by the stimulation of bladder distension only while the patient is in deep sleep, not in light sleep. This finding corresponds with the mechanism of enuresis type I in our classification of enuresis, based on overnight simultaneous monitoring using electroencephalography and cystometry. The importance of arousal and sleep systems in the pathogenesis of enuresis is also discussed.