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Phosphodiesterase type 1, calcitonin gene-related peptide and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide are involved in the control of human vaginal arterial vessels

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Author

  • Stefan Uckert
  • Knut Albrecht
  • Markus A. Kuczyk
  • Petter Hedlund
  • Matthias Oelke

Summary, in English

Objective: The vagina makes a major contribution to the normal female sexual response cycle. An increase in vaginal blood flow is considered a key event in the mechanism of sexual arousal. Recent research has focused mainly on the cyclic GMP pathway and phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5, cyclic GMP specific PDE) in the control of vaginal vascular smooth muscle, whereas only little is known on the role of other key proteins and mediators of cyclic nucleotide mediated signaling in this process. The aim of the present study was to evaluate in the human vagina, by means of immunohistochemistry, the expression and distribution of phosphodiesterase type 1 (PDE1, known to hydrolize both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP) in relation to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). Study design: Sections of human vagina (full wall specimens) were incubated with antibodies directed against PDE1, CGRP, VIP, PGP 9.5 and alpha-actin, followed by exposure to fluorochrome-labelled secondary antibodies. Visualization was commenced by means of laser fluorescence microscopy. Results: Microscopic examination revealed a dense meshwork of PGP 9.5-positive nerve fibers innervating the sections of vaginal wall. Small vessels interspersing the tissue presented dense staining for PDE1 in their smooth musculature. Blood vessels were seen surrounded by PDE1-immunoreactive longitudinal smooth muscle fibers. The vessels were also found innervated by PGP-positive varicose nerve fibers characterized by the expression of CGRP. Some fibers presented immunosignals specific for VIP. Conclusion: Key mediators of the cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP pathways are co-localized in nerves seen in close proximity to vascular smooth muscle expressing PDE1. These findings suggest that both signaling cascades are involved in the control of vaginal blood flow. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Publishing year

2013

Language

English

Pages

283-286

Publication/Series

European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology

Volume

169

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine

Keywords

  • Human vagina
  • Vascular smooth muscle
  • Phosphodiesterase type 1
  • Calcitonin gene-related peptide
  • Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide
  • Immunohistochemistry

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0301-2115