Distribution and immunohistochemical characterisation of paracervical neurons innervating the oviduct in the pig

Folia Morphol (Warsz). 2001 Aug;60(3):205-11.

Abstract

The present study was aimed at disclosing the distribution of paracervical neurons projecting to the ampulla and isthmus of the porcine oviduct and the pattern(s) of co-existence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (D beta H), neuropeptide Y (NPY), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) within these nerve cell bodies. The fluorescent retrograde tracer Fast Blue (FB) was injected into the wall of the ampullar (n = 3) and isthmal (n = 3) part of the organ in six sexually immature female pigs. After a survival period of three weeks paracervical ganglia (PCG) were collected. 10 microns-thick cryostat sections of the ganglia were examined for the presence of FB-positive (FB+) nerve cells under the fluorescent microscope. Tracered neurons were counted in every third section and processed for double-labelling immunofluorescence according to the method of Wessendorf and Elde. 78.6% of FB+ neurons were projecting to the isthmus while 21.4% of the studied population innervated the ampulla of the oviduct. Double-labelling immunofluorescence revealed the existence of the following different chemically coded subpopulations of the studied perikarya: TH+/D beta H+, TH+/NPY+, TH+/NOS+, TH+/NOS-, SP-/NOS+, SP+/CGRP+.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / analysis
  • Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / analysis
  • Fallopian Tubes / innervation*
  • Female
  • Hypogastric Plexus / chemistry
  • Hypogastric Plexus / cytology*
  • Hypogastric Plexus / enzymology
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Neurons / chemistry*
  • Neurons / enzymology*
  • Neuropeptide Y / analysis
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / analysis
  • Substance P / analysis
  • Swine
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / analysis

Substances

  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Substance P
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase
  • Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide