Summary
Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) levels and distribution were studied in the penis of young-adult (3-month-old) and old (30-month-old) Wistar rats by radioimmunoassay and immunofluorescence. No significant changes in tissue VIP concentrations or distribution occurred in the penis of old rats compared to young-adult rats. The present data indicate that the age-related impairment of male sexual function is not dependent on modifications of the VIP-ergic innervation of penile tissue.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Andrew WG (1971) The anatomy of aging in man and animals. Grune and Stratton, New York
Berg BN (1967) Longevity studies in rats. II. Pathology of ageing rats. In: Cotchin E, Roe FJ (eds) Pathology of laboratory rats and mice. Davis, Philadelphia, pp 749–852
Besson J, Laburthe M, Bataille D, Dupont C, Rosselin G (1978) Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP): tissue distribution in the rat as measured by radioimmunoassay and by radioreceptorassay. Acta Endocrinol 87: 799–810
Burgi H, Hedinger C (1959) Histologische HodenverÄnderungen im hohen Alter. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 89: 1236–1240
Coons AH (1958) Fluorescent antibody methods. In: Danielli JF (ed) General cytochemical methods. Academic Press, New York, pp 399–422
Crowe R, Lincoln J, Blacklay PF, Pryor JP, Lumley JSP, Burnstock G (1983) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-like immunoreactive nerves in diabetic penis: a comparison between streptozotocin-treated rats and man. Diabetes 32: 1075–1077
Dail WG, Moll MA, Weber K (1983) Localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in penile erectile tissue and in the major pelvic ganglion of the rat. Neuroscience 10: 1379–1386
Harbitz TB, Haugen OA (1972) Histology of the prostate in elderly men. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand [A] 80: 756–761
Larson JJ, Ottesen B, Fahrenkrug J, Fahrenkrug L (1981) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the male genitourinary tract: concentration and motor effect. Invest Urol 19: 211
Mainwaring WIP, Brandes D (1974) Functional and structural changes in accessory sex organs during aging. In: Brandes D (ed) Male accessory sex organs: structure and function in mammals. Academic Press, New York, pp 469–480
Masters WH, Johnson VE (1970) Human sexual inadequacy. Little, Brown, Boston
Nilsson S (1962) The human seminal vesicle. A morphogenetic and gross anatomic study with special regard to changes due to age and to prostatic adenoma. Acta Chir Scand [Suppl] 296: 5–38
Ottesen B, Wagner G, Virag R, Fahrenkrug J (1984) Penile erection: possible role for vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as a neurotransmitter. Br Med J 288: 9–11
Polak JM, Gu J, Mina S, Bloom SR (1981) VIPergic nerves in the penis. Lancet ii: 217–219
Said SI, Mutt V (1970) Polypeptide with broad biological activity: isolation from small intestine. Science 169: 1217–1218
Steger RW, Peluso JJ, Bruni JF, Hafez ESE, Meites J (1979) Gonadotropin binding and testicular function in old rats. Endokrinologie 73: 1–12
Steger RW, Huang H, Meites J (1981) Reproduction. In: Masoro EJ (ed) Handbook of physiology in aging. CRC Press, Boca Raton
Timiras PS (1972) Developmental physiology and aging. Macmillan, New York
Willis T, Ottesen B, Wagner G, Sundler F, Fahrenkrug J (1981) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as a possible neurotransmitter involved in penile erection. Acta Physiol Scand 113: 545–567
Willis E, Ottesen B, Wagner G, Sundler F, Fahrenkrug J (1983) Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as a putative neurotransmitter in penile erection. Life Sci 33: 383–391
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Amenta, F., Cavallotti, C., De Rossi, M. et al. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide levels and distribution in the penis of old rats. J. Neural Transmission 70, 137–143 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01252515
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01252515