Expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors in human uterus.
We show the existence of functional vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors in normal human female genital tract (endometrium, myometrium, ovary and Fallopian tube) as well as in leiomyoma (a frequent uterine pathology). The correlation between VIP binding and stimulation of adenylyl cyclase activity for all studied tissues was linear (r = 0.86) suggesting the expression of VIP receptors throughout the human female genital tract. Immunodetection of VIP receptor subtypes gave different molecular weights for VPAC(1) (47 kDa primarily) and VPAC(2) (65 kDa), which may be due to different glycosylation extents. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the expression of both subtypes of VIP receptors and their functionality in human female genital tract, suggesting that this neuropeptide could play an important physiological and pathophysiological role at this level.
Bajo
A M
AM
Unidad de Neuroendocrinología Molecular, Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Universidad de Alcalá, E-28871, Alcalá de Henares, Spain.
Juarranz
M G
MG
Valenzuela
P
P
Martínez
P
P
Prieto
J C
JC
Guijarro
L G
LG
D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004717:Endometrium / Q000378:metabolism; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry; D011485:Protein Binding; D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D051239:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II; D051238:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry*
D018005:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide; D051239:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide, Type II; D051238:Receptors, Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide, Type I; C495509:VIPR2 protein, human; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases