A Neural Circuit for Modular Gating of Organ Somatosensation

End-organs such as the bladder rely on a delicate balance between internal urgency and voluntary restraint. However, the specific spinal circuits coordinating these functions remain poorly defined. Here, we identify a genetically defined population of lumbosacral spinal interneurons marked byTrpc4expression that gate bladder sensory input and regulate micturition reflexes. Single-cell transcriptomics and in situ physiology reveal molecularly distinctTrpc4subtypes. Functional manipulation reveals that Trpc4 neurons are essential for coordinating bladder-sphincter activity and gating visceral pain. Their ablation leads to bladder hypersensitivity and voiding dysfunction, while targeted activation reverses these maladaptive states. Circuit tracing reveals convergence of primary afferent and descending brainstem inputs ontoTrpc4neurons. These findings establishTrpc4interneurons are critical for bladder sensory-motor integration and extend classical spinal gating models to encompass visceral pain and organ reflex control.