Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Distribution of subgroups of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive and noradrenergic nerves in the female rat uterine cervix

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Nerves in the uterine cervix of the rat were examined with regard to co-existence of markers for noradrenaline and neuropeptide Y, and differential tissue innervation by nerves containing different combinations of these markers. Immunohistochemical labeling of single and adjacent serial cryostat sections, and double labeling was employed. Some animals were treated with the noradrenergic neurotoxin, 6-hydroxydopamine. In control animals neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers were numerous in the myometrium and around arteries; noradrenergic fibers were few in the myometrium and moderate in number around arteries. Myometrial neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers were not decreased, but apparently increased, in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats; in contrast, perivascular neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers were markedly reduced, but not totally absent. Noradrenergic fibers were absent in the myometrium and around arteries following 6-hydroxydopamine treatment. Labeling of adjacent sections and double labeling revealed coincident labeling of markers for neuropeptide Y and noradrenaline in perivascular, but not myometrial, nerves. We concluded that most myometrial neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive nerves did not contain noradrenaline since they were not sensitive to 6-hydroxydopamine and did not stain doubly; however, perivascular neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive fibers which degenerated after 6-hydroxydopamine treatment and did label doubly must co-store noradrenaline. Some neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive perivascular fibers may contain neuropeptide Y but not noradrenaline. Thus, it appears there is a differential innervation of tissues in the cervix by neuropeptide Y/noradrenergic nerves; this could reflect a differential regulation of tissues innervated by these nerves.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen JM, Adrian TE, Tatemoto K, Polak JM, Hughes J, Bloom SR (1982) Two novel peptides, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and peptide YY (PYY) inhibit the contraction of the electrically stimulated mouse vas deferens. Neuropeptides 3:71–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Allen JM, Yeats JC, Blank MA, McGregor GP, Gu J, Polak JM, Bloom SR (1985) Effect of 6-hydroxydopamine on neuropeptides in the rat female genitourinary tract. Peptides 6:1213–1217

    Google Scholar 

  • Alm P, Alumets J, Brodin E, Hakanson R, Nilsson G, Sjoberg N-O, Sundler F (1978) Peptidergic (substance P) nerves in the genito-urinary tract. Neuroscience 3:419–425

    Google Scholar 

  • Alm P, Alumets J, Hakanson R, Owman C, Sjoberg N-O, Sundler F, Walles B (1980) Origin and distribution of VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) nerves in the genitourinary tract. Cell Tissue Res 205:337–347

    Google Scholar 

  • Alm P, Alumets J, Hakanson R, Owman Ch, Sjoberg N-O, Sternquist M, Sundler F (1981) Enkephalin-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the feline genito-urinary tract. Histochemistry 72:351–355

    Google Scholar 

  • Bauer FE, Christofides ND, Hacker GW, Blank MA, Polak JM, Bloom SR (1986) Distribution of galanin immunoreactivity in the genitourinary tract of man and rat. Peptides 7:5–10

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund H, Olson L, Seiger A (1983) Enkephalin-like immuno-fluorescence in nerves of the rat iris following systemic capsaicin injection. Med Biol 61:280–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund H, Hoffer B, Olson L, Palmer M, Seiger A (1984) Enkephalin immunoreactivity in iris nerves: distribution in normal and grafted irides, persistence and enhanced fluorescence after denervations. Histochemistry 80:1–7

    Google Scholar 

  • Björklund H, Hökfelt T, Goldstein M, Terenius L, Olson L (1985) Appearance of the noradrenergic markers tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y in cholinergic nerves of the iris following sympathectomy. J Neurosci 5:1633–1643

    Google Scholar 

  • Blank MA, Gu J, Allen JM, Huang WM, Yiangou Y, Ch'ng J, Lewis G, Elder MG, Polak JM (1986) The regional distribution of NPY-, PHM, and VIP-containing nerves in the human female genital tract. Int J Fertil 31:218–222

    Google Scholar 

  • Blessing WW, Howe PRC, Joh TH, Oliver JR, Willoughby JO (1986) Distribution of tyrosine hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactive neurons in rabbit medulla oblongata, with attention to colocalization studies, presumptive adrenalin-synthesizing perikarya, and vagal preganglionic cells. J Comp Neurol 248:285–300

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa M, Furness JB (1984) Somatostatin is present in a subpopulation of noradrenergic nerve fibres supplying the intestine. Neuroscience 13:911–919

    Google Scholar 

  • Costa M, Furness JB, Gibbins IL (1986) Chemical coding of enteric neurons. Prog Brain Res 68:217–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Edvinsson L, Emson P, McCulloch J, Tatemoto K, Uddman R (1983) Neuropeptide Y: Cerebrovascular innervation and vasomotor effects in the cat. Neurosci Lett 43:79–84

    Google Scholar 

  • Ekblad E, Edvinsson L, Wahlestedt C, Uddman R, Hakanson R, Sundler F (1984) Neuropeptide Y co-exists and co-operates with noradrenaline in perivascular nerve fibers. Regul Pept 8:225–235

    Google Scholar 

  • Floor E, Leeman SE (1980) Substance P sulfoxides: Separation from substance P by high-pressure liquid chromatography, biological, and immunological activites, and chemical reduction. Anal Biochem 101:498–503

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness JB, Costa M, Walsh JH (1981) Evidence for and significance of the projection of VIP neurons from the myenteric plexus to the taenia coli in the guinea pig. Gastroenterology 80:1557–1561

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness JB, Costa M, Emson PC, Hakanson R, Moghimzadeh E, Sundler F, Taylor IL, Chance RE (1983) Distribution, pathways and reactions to drug treatment of nerves with neuropeptide Y-and pancreatic polypeptide-like immunoreactivity in the guinea-pig digestive tract. Cell Tissue Res 234:71–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Furness JB, Costa M, Gibbins IL, Llewellyn-Smith IJ, Oliver J (1985) Neurochemically similar myenteric and submucous neurons directly traced to the mucosa of the small intestine. Cell Tissue Res 241:155–163

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghatei MA, Gu J, Allen JM, Polak JM, Bloom SR (1985a) Bombesin-like immunoreactivity in female rat genito-urinary tract. Neurosci Lett 54:13–19

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghatei MA, Gu J, Mulderry PK, Blank MA, Allen JM, Morrison JFB, Polak JM, Bloom SR (1985b) Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the female rat reproductive tract. Peptides 6:809–815

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbins IL, Furness JB, Costa M (1987) Pathway-specific patterns of the co-existence of substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, cholecystokinin and dynorphin in neurons of the dorsal root ganglia of the guinea pig. Cell Tissue Res 248:417–437

    Google Scholar 

  • Hassall CJS, Burnstock G (1984) Neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in cultured intrinsic neurones of the heart. Neurosci Lett 52:111–115

    Google Scholar 

  • Huang WM, Gu J, Blank MA, Allen JM, Bloom SR, Polak JM (1984) Peptide-immunoreactive nerves in the mammalian female genital tract. Histochem J 16:1297–1310

    Google Scholar 

  • Inyama CO, Hacker GW, Gu J, Dahl D, Bloom SR, Polak JM (1985) Cytochemical relationships in the paracervical ganglion (Frankenhauser) of rat studied by immunocytochemistry. Neurosci Lett 55:311–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Jonsson G (1980) Chemical neurotoxins as denervation tools in neurobiology. Ann Rev Neurosci 3:169–187

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler JA (1985) Parasympathetic, sympathetic, and sensory interactions in the iris: Nerve growth factor regulates cholinergic ciliary ganglion innervation in vivo. J Neurosci 5:2719–2725

    Google Scholar 

  • Kessler JA, Bell WO, Black IB (1983) Interactions between the sympathetic and sensory innervation of the iris. J Neurosci 3:1301–1307

    Google Scholar 

  • Kirby ML, Conrad DC, Stewart DE (1987) Increase in the cholinergic cardiac plexus in sympathetically aneural chick hearts. Cell Tissue Res 247:489–496

    Google Scholar 

  • Kostrzewa RM, Jacobowitz DM (1974) Pharmacological actions of 6-hydroxydopamine. Pharmacol Rev 26:199–288

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg JM, Terenius L, Hökfelt T, Martling C, Tatemoto K, Mutt V, Polak J, Bloom S, Goldstein M (1982) Neuropeptide Y (NPY)-like immunoreactivity in peripheral noradrenergic neurons and effects of NPY on sympathetic function. Acta Physiol Scand 116:477–480

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg JM, Terenius L, Hökfelt T, Goldstein M (1983) High levels of neuropeptide Y in peripheral noradrenergic neurons in various mammals including man. Neurosci Lett 42:167–172

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg JM, Terenius L, Hökfelt T, Tatemoto K (1984) Comparative immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis of pancreatic polypeptide-like peptides with special reference to presence of neuropeptide Y in central and peripheral neurons. J Neurosci 4:2376–2386

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg JM, Anggard A, Pernow J, Hökfelt T (1985a) Neuropeptide Y-substance P-and VIP-immunoreactive nerves in cat spleen in relation to autonomic vascular and volume control. Cell Tissue Res 239:9–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundberg JM, Saria A, Franco-Cereceda A, Hökfelt T, Terenius L, Goldstein M (1985b) Differential effects of reserpine and 6-hydroxydopamine on neuropeptide Y (NPY) and noradrenaline in peripheral neurons. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol 328:331–340

    Google Scholar 

  • Macrae IM, Furness JB, Costa M (1986) Distribution of subgroups of noradrenaline neurons in the coeliac ganglion of the guinea pig. Cell Tissue Res 244:173–180

    Google Scholar 

  • Malmfors T, Sachs C (1968) Degeneration of adrenergic nerves produced by 6-hydroxydopamine. Eur J Pharmacol 3:89–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Mattiasson A, Ekblad E, Sundler F, Uvelius B (1985) Origin and distribution of neuropeptide Y-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-and substance P-containing nerve fibers in the urinary bladder of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 239:141–146

    Google Scholar 

  • McLachlan EM, Llewellyn-Smith IJ (1986) The immunohistochemical distribution of neuropeptide Y in lumbar pre-and paravertebral sympathetic ganglia of the guinea pig. J Auton Nerv Syst 17:313–324

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris JL, Gibbins IL, Furness JB, Costa M, Murphy R (1985) Co-localization of neuropeptide Y, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, and dynorphin in non-noradrenergic axons of the guinea pig. Neurosci Lett 62:31–37

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris JL, Murphy R, Furness JB, Costa M (1986) Partial depletion of neuropeptide Y from noradrenergic perivascular and cardiac axons by 6-hydroxydopamine and reserpine. Regul Pept 13:147–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Papka RE, Traurig HH (1987) Substance K-, substance P-, and calcitonin gene-related peptide-immunoreactive nerves in the female reproductive organs. In: Henry JL (ed) Substance P and Neurokinins. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 229–231

    Google Scholar 

  • Papka RE, Cotton JP, Traurig HH (1985) Comparative distribution of neuropeptide tyrosine-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, substance P-immunoreactive, acetylcholinesterase-positive and noradrenergic nerves in the reproductive tract of the female rat. Cell Tissue Res 242:475–490

    Google Scholar 

  • Papka RE, Traurig HH, Klenn P (1987) Paracervical ganglia of the female rat: Histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of neurons, SIF cells, and nerve terminals. Am J Anat 179:243–257

    Google Scholar 

  • Quidt ME de, Emson PC (1986) Distribution of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in the rat central nervous system. I. Radioimmunoassay and chromatographic characterisation. Neuroscience 18:527–543

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinecke M (1987) Neurotensin in the human fallopian tube: Immunohistochemical localization and effects of synthetic neurotensin on motor activity in vitro. Neurosci Lett 73:220–224

    Google Scholar 

  • Rush RA, Geffen LB (1981) Dopamine β-hydroxylase in health and disease. In: Batszakis J, Savory J (eds) Critical Reviews of Clinical Laboratory Science. CRC Press, Florida 12:241–277

  • Sternquist ME, Emson P, Owman Ch, Sjoberg N-O, Sundler F, Tatemoto K (1983) Neuropeptide Y in the female reproductive tract of the rat. Distribution of nerve fibers and motor effects. Neurosci Lett 39:279–284

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternquist ME, Ekbald E, Owman Ch, Sundler F (1986) Neuronal localization and motor effects of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) in rat uterus. Regul Pept 13:197–205

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundler F, Moghimzadeh E, Hakanson R, Ekelund M, Emson P (1983) Nerve fibers in the gut and pancreas of the rat displaying neuropeptide-Y immunoreactivity. Intrinsic and extrinsic origin. Cell Tiss Res 230:487–493

    Google Scholar 

  • Traurig HH, Papka RE, Rush M (1987) Role of capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent nerves in the neuroendocrine copulation reflex. In: Henry JL (ed) Substance P and Neurokinins. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 226–228

    Google Scholar 

  • Wahlestedt C, Yanaihara N, Hakanson R (1986) Evidence for different pre-and post-junctional receptors for neuropeptide Y and related peptides. Regul Pept 13:307–318

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y-N, McDonald JK, Wyatt RJ (1987) Immunocytochemical localization of neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity in adrenergic and non-adrenergic neurons of the rat gastrointestinal tract. Peptides 8:145–151

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessendorf MW, Elde RP (1985) Characterization of an immunofluorescence technique for the demonstration of coexisting neurotransmitters within nerve fibers and terminals. J Histochem Cytochem 33:984–994

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, USA

    R. E. Papka & H. H. Traurig

Authors
  1. R. E. Papka
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. H. H. Traurig
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Papka, R.E., Traurig, H.H. Distribution of subgroups of neuropeptide Y-immunoreactive and noradrenergic nerves in the female rat uterine cervix. Cell Tissue Res. 252, 533–541 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216640

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00216640

Key words

Search

Navigation