Organization of the guinea-pig uterine innervation. Distribution of immunoreactivities for different neuronal markers. Effects of chemical- and pregnancy-induced sympathectomy.
The structural organization of the guinea-pig uterine innervation was investigated by an immunofluorescence method using neurofibrillary protein (NF) and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as general neuronal markers. NF- and NSE-immunoreactive nerve trunks and non-varicose nerves formed continuous networks similar to nerves with analogue morphology and with immunoreactivities for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH; adrenergic nerves) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). NF- and NSE-immunoreactive non-varicose nerves occurred in the myometrium and along vessels, where TH- and NPY-immunoreactive varicose nerves were also comparatively frequent. After chemical sympathectomy all TH- and NPY-immunoreactive varicose nerves and most NF- and NSE-immunoreactive non-varicose nerves disappeared, suggesting colocalization of TH, NPY, NF and NSE immunoreactivities. During pregnancy all NF-, NSE-, TH- and NPY-immunoreactive nerve structures disappeared in the foetus-bearing uterine horns whereas in the cervix and non-foetus-bearing uterine horns only the myometrial TH- and NPY-immunoreactive varicose nerves disappeared. After parturition there was a complete structural restoration of all types of immunoreactive nerves in previously non-foetus-related tissue. The reinnervation of this tissue followed a similar time-course to that after chemical sympathectomy. In contrast, the reinnervation of previously foetus-related tissue was much slower and incomplete. In conclusion, the whole autonomic uterine innervation undergoes overt structural changes during pregnancy and these changes are related to the foetus-bearing regions.
Alm
P
P
Department of Pathology, University of Lund, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Lundberg
L M
LM
Wharton
J
J
Polak
J M
JM
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000276:immunology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D009454:Neurofibrils / Q000378:metabolism*; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000276:immunology; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013562:Sympathectomy; D013563:Sympathectomy, Chemical; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D014599:Uterus / Q000294:innervation*
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase