HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS MEDIATED NERVE GROWTH FACTOR EXPRESSION IN BLADDER AND AFFERENT NEURONS: POTENTIAL TREATMENT FOR DIABETIC BLADDER DYSFUNCTION

The NGF gene may be transferred and expressed in the bladder and bladder afferent pathways using HSV vectors. To our knowledge our study represents the first demonstration of the effectiveness of gene therapy for altering neurotrophic expression in visceral sensory neurons. This technique of gene transfer may be useful for treating certain types of neurogenic bladder dysfunction, such as diabetic cystopathy, in which decreased NGF transport may be a causative factor.