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Contractile Response of Human Anterior Vaginal Muscularis in Women With and Without Pelvic Organ Prolapse

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the contractility of the anterior vaginal muscularis (AVM) from women with and without pelvic organ prolapse (POP). In vitro experiments were performed to measure the peak force generated in response to potassium chloride (KCl; 125 mmol/L) and phenylephrine by AVM tissue from women with and without POP. Cross-sectional areas and co-localization of α1A adrenergic receptor protein with smooth muscle α-actin in AVM strips were determined by histology and immunofluorescence, respectively. There were no differences in the mean amplitude of force generated in response to KCl normalized to either wet weight or muscle cross-sectional area (mN/mm2) between women with and without POP (P >.30). However, AVM from women with prolapse produced a significantly higher mean force to KCl normalized to total cross-sectional area compared to controls (P =.007). While the control samples demonstrated a consistent response to phenylephrine, there was no response to this stimulant generated by AVM tissue from women with POP. The proportion of co-localized α1A adrenergic receptors with smooth muscle α actin in AVM tissue was significantly less in women with POP compared to normal controls (P <.0001). Although there was significantly greater tissue stress generated by AVM from women with prolapse compared to controls, there were no differences in muscle stress. Absent response to phenylephrine by AVM from women with prolapse may be related to a lower expression of α1A adrenergic receptors in vaginal smooth muscle.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, 1000 Ravdin Ctyd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA

    Gina M. Northington MD, PhD & Lily A. Arya MS, MD

  2. Department of Human Science, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA

    Maureen Basha PhD

  3. Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Alan J. Wein MD, PhD

  4. Basic Urologic Research, Department of Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Samuel Chacko DVM, PhD

Authors
  1. Gina M. Northington MD, PhD
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  2. Maureen Basha PhD
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  3. Lily A. Arya MS, MD
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  4. Alan J. Wein MD, PhD
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  5. Samuel Chacko DVM, PhD
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Correspondence to Gina M. Northington MD, PhD.

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Authors’ Note

Portions of this research was presented at the 26th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society, September 2005, Atlanta, GA, and the Society of Urodynamics and Female Urology Annual Scientific Meeting, 2006, Freeport, Bahamas.

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Northington, G.M., Basha, M., Arya, L.A. et al. Contractile Response of Human Anterior Vaginal Muscularis in Women With and Without Pelvic Organ Prolapse. Reprod. Sci. 18, 296–303 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719110392054

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719110392054

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