title: Analysis of the expression of neurokinin B, kisspeptin, and their cognate receptors NK3R and KISS1R in the human female genital tract.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the presence of neurokinin B (NKB)/NK(3) receptor (NK(3)R) and kisspeptin/KISS1 receptor (KISS1R) messenger RNA (mRNA) and proteins throughout the human female genital tract.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic research laboratories and academic hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen reproductive-age women and 16 postmenopausal women provided fresh samples of uterus, ovary, or oviduct, and 12 women provided archival samples of endometrium or oviduct.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fresh and archival samples of uterus, ovary, and oviduct obtained from reproductive-age and postmenopausal women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Results of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry to investigate the pattern of expression of NKB/NK(3)R and kisspeptin/KISS1R in target tissues.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of the genes encoding NKB (TAC3) and NK(3)R (TACR3), and kisspeptin (KISS1) and its receptor (KISS1R) was found in the uterus, ovary, and oviduct. Both NKB and NK(3)R immunoreactivity was detected in the endometrium, the oviduct, and the ovary, with marked expression in endometrial and oviductal epithelial cells, where intense coexpression of kisspeptin and KISS1R was also detected. Positive staining for NKB and NK(3)R was found in the myometrium where, in contrast, kisspeptin and KISS1R were absent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NKB/NK(3)R and kisspeptin/KISS1R are present in female peripheral reproductive tissues with colocalization of both systems in some non-neuronal cell populations of the human female genital tract. Our findings are compatible with a potential modulatory role of NKB and kisspeptin at peripheral reproductive tissues.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas (IIQ), CSIC, Universidad de Sevilla, Seville, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cejudo Roman
authors.forename: Francisco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Idaira
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dorta
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Illanes
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tena-Sempere
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Candenas
mesh_terms: D004717:Endometrium / Q000737:chemistry; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015287:Neurokinin B / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D010053:Ovary / Q000737:chemistry*; D017698:Postmenopause; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D014599:Uterus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: C106628:KISS1 protein, human; C118688:KISS1R protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D000074502:Receptors, Kisspeptin-1; D018042:Receptors, Neurokinin-3; D015287:Neurokinin B