title: Nitric oxide nerves in the uterus are parasympathetic, sensory, and contain neuropeptides.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized in neurons and is a potent relaxor of vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle. The uterus contains abundant NO-synthesizing nerves which could be autonomic and/or sensory. This study was undertaken to determine: 1) the source(s) of NO-synthesizing nerves in the rat uterus and 2) what other neuropeptides or transmitter markers might coexist with NO in these nerves. Retrograde axonal tracing, utilizing Fluorogold injected into the uterine cervix, was employed for identifying sources of uterine-projecting neurons. NO-synthesizing nerves were visualized by staining for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced)-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and immunostaining with an antibody against neuronal/type I NO synthase (NOS). NADPH-d-positive perikarya and terminal fibers were NOS-immunoreactive (-I). Some NOS-I/NADPH-d-positive nerves in the uterus are parasympathetic and originate from neurons in the pelvic paracervical ganglia (PG) and some are sensory and originate from neurons in thoracic, lumbar, and sacral dorsal root ganglia. No evidence for NOS-I/NADPH-d-positive sympathetic nerves in the uterus was obtained. Furthermore, double immunostaining revealed that in parasympathetic neurons, NOS-I/NADPH-d-reactivity coexists with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y, and acetylcholinesterase and in sensory nerves, NOS-I/NADPH-d-reactivity coexists with calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P. In addition, tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)-I neurons of the PG do not contain NOS-I/NADPH-d-reactivity, but some TH-I neurons are apposed by NOS-I varicosities. These results suggest NO-synthesizing nerves in the uterus are autonomic and sensory, and could play significant roles, possibly in conjunction with other putative transmitter agents, in the control of uterine myometrium and vasculature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical Sciences, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City 73190.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Papka
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: McNeill
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002584:Cervix Uteri; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000737:chemistry; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000737:chemistry; D007267:Injections; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000737:chemistry*; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000032:analysis*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013266:Stilbamidines; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis; D014599:Uterus / Q000294:innervation*
chemical_list: C049774:2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D013266:Stilbamidines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D008058:Dihydrolipoamide Dehydrogenase