# Targeting Spinal Dopaminergic Machinery to Improve Urinary Function after Spinal Cord Injury

> **NIH NIH F31** · DREXEL UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $45,520

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) often results in lower urinary tract dysfunction. Although a spinal
bladder reflex can be established over time, loss of supraspinal modulation causes detrusor-sphincter
dyssynergia and bladder hyperreflexia, which manifests as incontinence and inefficient voiding. The
aforementioned symptoms eventually lead to urinary tract infections and, in some cases, kidney failure.
Currently, urinary complications are one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in SCI patients. While
spontaneous reorganization of spinal neuronal circuits occurs after injury, the extent is limited and the underlying
mechanisms are not well understood. Recently, we discovered that a subpopulation of tyrosine hydroxylase
(TH+) cells reside within the lower spinal cord that sustain dopamine (DA) levels and regulate the recovered
bladder reflex after SCI. This is similar to what was observed in neonates. Accordingly, we hypothesize that,
following SCI, spinal DA-related neurons reemerge as a primitive residual response to injury that regulates the
micturition reflex, and increasing spinal DA signaling improves functional urinary recovery. In Aim 1, we will
employ histological, fluorescent cell sorting and genetic analyses to determine if spinal DA-related cells of
neonate and adult SCI rats share a similar distribution and molecular features. Transsynaptic tracing will
illuminate if these cells are involved in the spinal micturition reflex circuitry. In Aim 2, using chemogenetic
techniques and micturition reflex assessments, we will elucidate whether spinal TH+ cells regulate the recovered
micturition reflex following SCI, and if enhancing spinal DA signaling improves urinary function. Overall, the
results will help to better understand the role of the spinal dopaminergic system in the recovered bladder reflex
and examine the efficacy of a novel therapeutic target for micturition dysfunction after SCI.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10080025
- **Project number:** 5F31DK123840-02
- **Recipient organization:** DREXEL UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jaclyn H DeFinis
- **Activity code:** F31 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $45,520
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-05 → 2022-09-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10080025

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10080025, Targeting Spinal Dopaminergic Machinery to Improve Urinary Function after Spinal Cord Injury (5F31DK123840-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10080025. Licensed CC0.

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