The first symposium of the working group on experimental urology of the German Society of Urology was held in Cologne in 1972. It was meant to be a platform to present and, in particular, to discuss experimental studies developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, and to promote in novation in urology in Germany. This plan was well received, and during the last 16 years both the number of participants from other European and overseas countries and the number and quality of presentations have been continuously increasing. At the most recent meeting, held in Aachen in 1988, new data...