Peptide-containing nerves in the human pregnant uterine cervix: an immunohistochemical study exploring the effect of RU 486 (mifepristone).
The presence of several neuropeptides (neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP), galanin (GAL), enkephalin (ENK), somatostatin (SOM) was established in the early pregnant human cervix using indirect immunofluorescence immunohistochemistry. Several peptides (VIP, NPY, CGRP, GAL) were present both in free nerves among smooth muscle cells and around blood vessels. Others (SP, SOM) were only seen as single varicosities among smooth muscle cells. Randomized treatment of patients with RU 486 (mifepristone) prior to surgical sampling revealed no clearcut differences in peptide immunoreactivities. After RU 486 treatment, however, there was a tendency towards a decrease of NPY- and VIP-immunoreactivity, and an increase of CGRP-immunoreactivity.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Fried
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Meister
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Rådestad
D002116:Calcitonin / Q000378:metabolism; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000378:metabolism; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D019004:Galanin; D006801:Humans; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism*; D010455:Peptides / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D013373:Substance P / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000378:metabolism
D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D009479:Neuropeptides; D010455:Peptides; D015735:Mifepristone; D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin; D019004:Galanin; D002116:Calcitonin; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide