Substance P in the uterine cervix, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord during pregnancy and the effect of estrogen on SP synthesis.
Afferent/metabolism; Animals; Cervix Uteri/cytology/*metabolism; Down-Regulation; Estradiol/*analogs & derivatives/pharmacology; Estrogen/antagonists & inhibitors; Estrogens/*pharmacology; Female; Fulvestrant; Ganglia; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; Messenger/genetics/metabolism; Neurons; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy/*metabolism; Radioimmunoassay; Rats; Receptors; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA; Spinal Cord/cytology/*metabolism; Spinal/cytology/*metabolism; Sprague-Dawley; Substance P/*biosynthesis/genetics/metabolism; Up-Regulation
Prior to parturition the non-pliable uterine cervix undergoes a ripening process ("softens" and dilates) to allow a timely passage of the fetus at term. The exact mechanism(s) triggering and involved in cervical ripening are unknown, though evidence for a role for sensory neurons and their contained neuropeptides is emerging. Moreover, an apparent increase in neuropeptide immunoreactive nerves occurs in the cervix during pregnancy, maternal serum estrogen levels rise at term and uterine cervix-related L6-S1 dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory neurons express estrogen receptor (ER) and neuropeptides. Thus, we sought to test the hypothesis that the neuropeptide substance P (SP) changes biosynthesis and release over pregnancy, that estrogen, acting via the ER pathway, increases synthesis of SP in DRG, and that SP is utilized in cervical ripening at late pregnancy. Using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and radioimmunoassay (RIA), we investigated coexpression of ER-alpha/beta and SP; differential expression of
Mowa C N; Usip S; Storey-Workley M; Amann R; Papka R
Peptides
2003
2003-05
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/s0196-9781(03)00120-7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/s0196-9781(03)00120-7</a>
Sensory nerves and neuropeptides in uterine cervical ripening.
Animal; Animals; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/biosynthesis; Capsaicin/pharmacology; Cervical Ripening/*metabolism; Cervix Uteri/*innervation/*metabolism; Complementary/metabolism; Female; Genetic; Immunohistochemistry; Labor; Messenger/metabolism; Neurokinin-1/biosynthesis; Neurons/metabolism; Neuropeptides/*biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide Synthase/biosynthesis; Obstetric; Plasmids/metabolism; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Rats; Receptors; RNA; Secretogranin II; Sprague-Dawley; Substance P/biosynthesis; Transcription
At the time of parturition (fetal delivery) the uterine cervix must "ripen," becoming soft, pliable, and dilated to accommodate the fetus' delivery. The fundamental processes underlying cervical ripening remain poorly understood. Knowledge that abundant autonomic and sensory nerves supply the uterine cervix, that transection of afferent nerves supplying the cervix blocks parturition, and that some of the changes in the cervix resemble those seen in inflammatory reactions suggests nerves may have a role in the cervical ripening changes. The present study utilized immunohistochemistry, plasma extravasation, and solution hybridization-nuclease protection assay to elucidate the complement of primary afferent nerves and some receptors in the rat cervix during pregnancy, and to determine if they may have roles in the ripening process at term. This study revealed an abundance of nerves associated with the cervical vasculature and myometrial smooth muscle containing immunoreactivity for substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, secretoneurin, and nitric oxide synthase throughout pregnancy. Many of these are small unmyelinated capsaicin-sensitive C-fibers. Substance P- (NK1-) and calcitonin gene-related peptide receptors were apparent on uterine cervix vasculature from pregnant, parturient, and postpartum rats. NK1 receptor mRNA was maximal at 20 days of pregnancy. Plasma extravasation of i.v. administered Evans Blue or Monastral Blue was most pronounced at parturition (shortly after NK1 mRNA is maximal); this was similar to plasma extravasation evoked by i.v. administration of substance P or capsaicin-treatment. This study revealed new data about the nervous system of the rat uterine cervix and that these nerves and their transmitters could very well be part of a neurogenic inflammatory process involved in cervical ripening.
Collins J J; Usip S; McCarson K E; Papka R E
Peptides
2002
2002-01
Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/s0196-9781(01)00593-9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/s0196-9781(01)00593-9</a>