Cyclic adenosine monophosphate and cyclic guanosine monophosphate-phosphodiesterase isoenzymes in human vagina: Relation to nitric oxide synthase isoforms and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing nerves
Author
Summary, in English
Objectives. To evaluate the distribution of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) phosphodiesterases (PDEs) in relation to nitric oxide synthase isoforms and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in specimens of the human vagina. Nitric oxide and VIP, mediating biologic signals through cGMP and cAMP, have been assumed to be involved in the control of vaginal smooth muscle. Methods. Immunohistochemical techniques were applied to sectioned specimens of the human vaginal wall to evaluate the presence of the PDE isoenzymes 3, 4, 5, and 10 in relation to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), and VIP. Results. Immunoreactivity (IR) for cAMP-degrading PDE-4 was observed in the vaginal nonvascular smooth musculature, as well as in the wall of subepithelial arteries. VIP-IR nerves innervated the smooth muscle portion of the vaginal wall and also formed a subepithelial network. Immunoreactivity specific for PDE-5 was also registered in vascular and nonvascular vaginal smooth muscle. Immunosignals for eNOS were detected in the endothelial lining of arteries containing PDE-5-IR smooth muscle cells. These arteries were supplied by nNOS-IR nerve fibers. PDE-10-IR smooth muscle cells were located in muscle bundles of the vaginal wall. Conclusions. Our study revealed immunoreactivity specific for PDE-4, PDE-5, and PDE-10 in the vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle of the vagina. Immunosignals for PDE-4 and PDE-5 were also observed in close proximity to nNOS-IR or VIP-IR nerve fibers or to eNOS-IR endothelial cells. The distribution of PDEs may indicate a role of these enzymes in the control of the function of the human vagina.
Department/s
Publishing year
2005
Language
English
Pages
604-610
Publication/Series
Urology
Volume
65
Issue
3
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Elsevier
Topic
- Urology and Nephrology
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1527-9995