SPARC: Building a Three-Dimensional Atlas of Spinal Cord Circuits Regulating Lower Urinary Tract Function

Abstract

Lumbar and sacral spinal cord circuits are critical for pelvic visceral regulation, as well as being engaged in pelvic pain states. Our study has focused on mapping two components of these circuits, the central projections of primary sensory neurons and the preganglionic neurons that drive motor activity via pelvic ganglia. These sensory pathways form a minority of lumbosacral dorsal root ganglion neurons. Likewise, although the parasympathetic preganglionic neurons are easily identified (aggregated in the sacral intermediolateral nucleus), the sympathetic preganglionic neurons comprise a minority of the thoracolumbar preganglionic neurons and are largely located outside of the intermediolat..