title: Uterine Cervical Neurotransmission and Cervical Remodeling.
abstract: Cervical remodeling (CR) is a complex process, which, in part, is believed to be induced by physiological inflammation. Even though the female reproductive tissues are richly innervated by nerves from the parasympathetic pelvic autonomic ganglia, sensory dorsal root and nodose ganglia, their roles (neuronal factors) in this process (CR) has been largely attributed to sex steroid hormones, until recently. Here, we discuss the interaction between neuropeptides derived from peripheral nerves associated with uterine cervix and estrogen, and their likely impact on cervical remodeling. It is likely that these neuronal factors, under the influence of estrogen, could induce physiological inflammation during cervical remodeling by promoting the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, among other factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Chishimba N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Mowa
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000294:innervation / Q000378:metabolism*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005725:Ganglia, Autonomic / Q000378:metabolism; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010388:Pelvis / Q000294:innervation; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000235:genetics*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D009479:Neuropeptides; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Cervix; cervical remodeling; innervation; neuropeptides; vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)