title: Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, somatostatin- and substance P-immunoreactive nerves in the smooth and striated muscle of the intrinsic external urethral sphincter of patients with spinal cord injury.
abstract: Specimens obtained by transurethral sphincterectomy from patients with spinal cord injury and carcinoma of the bladder were studied immunohistochemically. In the smooth muscle region of the sphincter, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, substance P- and somatostatin-immunoreactive fluorescent, varicose nerve fibers were seen. In the striated muscle region, VIP-immunoreactive nerves were found around striated muscle fibers and bundles, while somatostatin- and substance P-immunoreactive nerves were confined to nerve bundles. In both the smooth and striated muscle regions of the intrinsic external urethral sphincter, VIP-immunoreactive nerves were seen around blood vessels. No differences were observed in the immunohistochemical localization of these peptide-containing nerves in the two groups of patients. No immunofluorescence for [Met]enkephalin, bombesin, neurotensin or serotonin was found in any nerves in the urethra.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000032:analysis*; D009132:Muscles / Q000032:analysis / Q000294:innervation*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000032:analysis; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D013373:Substance P / Q000032:analysis*; D014521:Urethra / Q000294:innervation*; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D001750:Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic / Q000473:pathology*; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D013373:Substance P; D014660:Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D013004:Somatostatin