Kimberly Keil Stietz

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) affect men and women of all ages, resulting in significant health care costs and substantial reduction in quality of life. Factors contributing to LUTS are still not completely understood. We are focused on understanding the impact of exposure to environmental contaminants on the establishment and regulation of urinary function in health and disease. One ubiquitous environmental contaminant of interest includes the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). PCBs are capable of altering endocrine function, including disruption of thyroid and steroid hormone levels and signaling pathways. PCBs are also known to have deleterious effects on the developing brain and central nervous system. However, their effects on the peripheral nervous system and peripheral target tissues – such as the bladder – are not understood. Therefore, we are using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches in mice to identify the effects of PCBs on urinary function focusing not only on bladder innervation and physiology but also on input from the central nervous system and dorsal root ganglia which are critical in controlling urinary function. Our ultimate goal is to be able to identify targets for therapeutic intervention and/or identify critical windows of exposure to help mitigate risk.