Faculty Bibliography

Bladder outlet obstruction in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia is decreased following administration of prazosin, a selective alpha1 adrenergic antagonist. Prazosin presumably binds and antagonizes alpha1 adrenergic receptors on the smooth muscle cells of the prostatic adenoma. This study represents the first identification and characterization of alpha1 adrenergic receptors in the prostate using radioligand receptor binding methods. The binding of [3H] prazosin in homogenates obtained from human prostatic adenomas was saturable and a single high affinity prazosin binding site was identified (Kd = 0.29 +/- 0.09 nM). The alpha1 adrenergic receptor concentration in these homogenates ranged between 0.28 to 2.05 fmol./ mg. wet wt. prostate. The equilibrium dissociation constant and density of prazosin binding sites were similar in different regions of an enucleated prostate suggesting homogeneity of receptor density and receptor binding sites within an adenoma. The receptor density was not directly proportional to the weight of the surgically removed adenoma. The pharmacology of the prazosin binding sites was characterized by competitive binding experiments using [3H] prazosin and several unlabelled adrenergic analogs. The IC50's determined from competitive binding experiments using [3H] prazosin and alpha-methylnorepinephrine, rauwolscine and corynanthine were characteristic of alpha1 adrenergic receptor binding

The inheritance pattern of the exstrophy-epispadias complex was investigated by a combined literature review and a survey of the personal experience of pediatric urologists in North and South America, and Europe. Bladder exstrophy recurred in only 9 of approximately 2,500 families (1 in 275) with bladder exstrophy or complete epispadias. The recurrence of the exstrophy-epispadias complex in offspring of parents with bladder exstrophy or complete epispadias has never been described previously. We identified 215 offspring produced by parents with bladder exstrophy or epispadias, and bladder exstrophy was inherited in 3 of the offspring (1 in 70 live births). The recurrence of bladder exstrophy in offspring of parents with the exstrophy-epispadias complex is greater than previously assumed

A total of 24 boys with classical bladder exstrophy underwent initial urethral reconstruction at our hospital between 1975 and 1982. Penile reconstruction in male patients with classical bladder exstrophy includes penile lengthening, release of the dorsal chordee and reconstruction of the urethra. The former 2 procedures are performed during the primary bladder closure and urethroplasty usually follows bladder neck reconstruction. A modified Young urethroplasty was done in 22 of the 24 patients. Preputial pedicle grafts of free full thickness skin grafts were used for urethroplasty in 2 boys with insufficient penile skin. Fistulas requiring surgical revision developed after urethroplasty in 21 per cent of the patients. A prior osteotomy was associated with a decreased fistula rate. The cosmetic and preliminary functional results of the penile reconstruction were assessed by parental interviews. The definitive assessment of the penile reconstruction will be determined when these boys reach sexual maturity