Substance P in the uterine cervix, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord during pregnancy and the effect of estrogen on SP synthesis.

Substance P in the uterine cervix, dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord during pregnancy and the effect of estrogen on SP synthesis.

Mowa C N; Usip S; Storey-Workley M; Amann R; Papka R

Peptides

2003

2003-05

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

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

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

761–771

5

24