Gender differences in voluntary micturition control: an fMRI study.

摘要: In the last decade functional imaging has gained substantial importance for identifying cortical and subcortical brain regions being involved in micturition circuit. However, possible gender differences are still a matter of debate. present study we used magnetic resonance (fMRI) to determine related healthy men compared them with those women elucidate gender-related differences. fMRI was performed at 3 T 12 urge void due filled bladder. non-voiding model they were instructed contract or relax pelvic floor muscles repetitively. As previously reported women, contraction relaxation induced strong activations brainstem more rostral areas our group men. general, had stronger during than nearly all identified areas. contrast, results condition similar. Some between relaxation, formerly detected females, could be found males as well. The suggest that same networks exist control. Especially, well located putative pontine centre periaqueductal grey both sexes. muscle control seems induce different activation intensities women.