Table 1 Urethral smooth muscle sex differences summary

Rabbit

Female

Greater density of α2 adrenoreceptor compared to α1 (122 vs. 33 fmol/mg)

Large contractile response to α2 agonist

Morita et al. [44]

Male

Equal amounts of α2 and α1 adrenoreceptors (32 vs. 34 fmol/mg)

Small contractile response to α2 agonist

Mouse

Female

Scant α1-adrenoreceptor expression

Smaller contractions in response to agonist

Alexandre et al. [45]

Male

Abundant α1-adrenoreceptor expression

Large contractions in response to agonist

Human

Female

During development, urethral SM had smaller volumes (4.95 mm³) and wider lumens (1.2 mm²)

Oswald et al. [34]

Male

During development, urethral SM had larger volumes (12.04 mm³) and narrower lumens (1.18 mm²)