Calcitonin gene-related peptide-receptor component protein expression in the uterine cervix, lumbosacral spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia.
Animals; Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide/*biosynthesis/immunology/metabolism; Cervix Uteri/*metabolism; Female; Ganglia; Lumbosacral Region; Rats; Receptors; Spinal Cord/*metabolism; Spinal/*metabolism; Sprague-Dawley; Uterus/metabolism
The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) may play a role in neurogenic inflammation, tissue remodeling of the uterine cervix, promoting vasodilation, parturition, and processing of sensory information in the spinal cord. CGRP-immunoreactive nerves of the cervix and spinal cord have been studied but cellular identification of the CGRP receptor has received little attention.
Pokabla M J; Dickerson I M; Papka R E
Peptides
2002
2002-03
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)00638-6" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/s0196-9781(01)00638-6</a>
Expression of pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide in the uterine cervix, lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord of rats during pregnancy.
*Gene Expression Regulation; Animals; Cervix Uteri/*metabolism; Female; Ganglia; Messenger; Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide/*genetics/*metabolism; Pregnancy; Rats; RNA; Spinal Cord/*metabolism; Spinal/*metabolism; Time Factors
The uterine cervix is highly innervated by the sensory nerves containing neuropeptides which change during pregnancy and are regulated, in part, by estrogen. These neuropeptides act as transmitters both in the spinal cord and cervix. The present study was undertaken to determine the expression pattern of the neuropeptide pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) in the cervix and its nerves during pregnancy and the influence of estrogen on this expression using immunohistochemistry, radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR. PACAP immunoreactivity was detected in nerves in the cervix, lumbosacral (L6-S1) dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and spinal cord. PACAP immunoreactivity was highest at day 15 of pregnancy in the cervix and dorsal spinal cord, but then decreased over the last trimester of pregnancy. However, levels of PACAP mRNA increased in the L6-S1 DRG at late pregnancy relative to early pregnancy. DRG of ovariectomized rats treated with estrogen showed increased PACAP mRNA synthesis in a dose-related manner, an effect partially blocked by the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182,780. We postulate that synthesis of PACAP in L6-S1 DRG and utilization in the cervix and spinal cord increase over pregnancy and this synthesis is the under influence of the estrogen-ER system. Since PACAP is expressed by sensory nerves and may have roles in nociception and vascular function, collectively, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that sensory nerve-derived neuronal factors innervate the cervix and play a role in cervical ripening.
Papka R E; Workley M; Usip S; Mowa C N; Fahrenkrug J
Peptides
2006
2006-04
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/j.peptides.2005.08.005" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/j.peptides.2005.08.005</a>
Calretinin-immunoreactive nerves in the uterus, pelvic autonomic ganglia, lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia and lumbosacral spinal cord.
Animals; Autonomic/*metabolism; Calbindin 2; Capsaicin/pharmacology; Female; Ganglia; Immunohistochemistry; Lumbosacral Region; Nerve Fibers/drug effects/metabolism; Pelvis; Rats; S100 Calcium Binding Protein G/*metabolism; Spinal Cord/*metabolism; Spinal/*metabolism; Sprague-Dawley; Uterus/*innervation
Nerves containing the calcium-binding protein calretinin have been reported in several organs but not in female reproductive organs and associated ganglia. This study was undertaken to determine if nerves associated with the uterus contain calretinin and the source(s) of calretinin-synthesizing nerves in the rat (are they sensory, efferent, or both?). Calretinin-immunoreactive nerves were present in the uterine horns and cervix where they were associated with arteries, uterine smooth muscle, glands, and the epithelium. Calretinin-immunoreactive terminals were apposed to neurons in the paracervical ganglia; in addition, some postganglionic neurons in this ganglion were calretinin positive. Calretinin perikarya were present in the lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia, no-dose ganglia, and lumbosacral spinal cord. Retrograde axonal tracing, utilizing Fluorogold injected into the uterus or paracervical parasympathetic ganglia, revealed calretinin-positive/Fluorogold-labeled neurons in the dorsal root and nodose ganglia. Also, capsaicin treatment substantially reduced the calretinin-positive fibers in the uterus and pelvic ganglia, thus indicating the sensory nature of these fibers. The presence of calretinin immunoreactivity identifies a subset of nerves that are involved in innervation of the pelvic viscera and have origins from lumbosacral dorsal root ganglia and vagal nodose ganglia. Though the exact function of calretinin in these nerves is not currently known, calretinin is likely to play a role in calcium regulation and their function.
Papka R E; Collins J; Copelin T; Wilson K
Cell and tissue research
1999
1999-10
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/10.1007/s004419900071" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1007/s004419900071</a>