title: Expression and distribution of the transient receptor potential cationic channel ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) in the human vagina.
abstract: The transient receptor potential cationic channel type A1 (TRPA1), belonging to a superfamily of cationic membrane channels, has been suggested to act as mechano- and pain sensor and, thus, to play a role in neurotransmission in the human body, including the urogenital tract. While the expression of TRPA1 has been investigated in a variety of tissues, up until today, no study has addressed the expression and distribution in the female genital tract. The present study aimed to investigate the expression and distribution of TRPA1 protein in human vaginal tissue. Reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) was applied in order to identify messenger ribonuleic acid specifically encoding for TRPA/A1. The distribution of TRPA1 in relation to the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and the signaling peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was examined by means of immunohistochemical methods (double-antibody technique, laser fluorescence microscopy). RT-PCR analysis revealed the expression of mRNA encoding sequences specific for TRPA in the vaginal wall and epithelium. Immunostaining related to TRPA1 was observed in the basal epithelium and in slender varicose nerve fibers transversing the subepithelial and stromal space of the vaginal sections. In addition, these fibers presented immunoreactivity specific for nNOS or CGRP. The smooth musculature of the vaginal wall and small vessels interspersing the tissue did not present signals related to TRPA1. The findings indicate that TRPA1 might be involved in afferent neurotransmission in the vagina and work synergistically together with the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway.
authors: Division of Surgery, Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Ückert
authors: Sexual Function Research Unit, Institute for Biochemical Research and Analysis, Hannover, Germany.
authors: J E
authors: JE
authors: Sonnenberg
authors: Division of Surgery, Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Albrecht
authors: Division of Surgery, Department of Urology and Urological Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Kuczyk
authors: 1] Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden [2] Department of Urology, Urological Research Institute (URI), University Vita Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Hedlund
mesh_terms: D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / Q000032:analysis; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000737:chemistry; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000032:analysis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D014621:Vagina / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015220:Calcium Channels; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000074025:TRPA1 Cation Channel; C473350:TRPA1 protein, human; D050051:Transient Receptor Potential Channels; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide