Stereological Quantification of Nerve Fibers Immunoreactive to PGP 9.5, NPY, and VIP in Rat Prostate During Postnatal Development

Abstract

This work was undertaken to study prostate innervation during the postnatal development of rats. It deals with the quantification of nervous fibers throughout all the regions of the rat prostate during the postnatal development using a general marker for nervous tissue, protein gene product 9.5, and 2 neuropeptides (NPY and VIP). Forty male Wistar rats (prepubertals, pubertals, young, and aged adults) were studied for immunohistochemistry of protein gene product (PGP 9.5), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). They were also evaluated for length density of nerve fibers (L(V) PGP 9.5, L(V) NPY, L(V) VIP). Nerve fibers immunoreactive to the 3 antigens studied were detected in all the groups and in all the prostate zones. Periductal L(V) NPY evidenced a significant increase in the pubertal group, maintained throughout adult life. Periductal L(V) VIP showed a significant increase in young adults. The length densities of VIP and NPY fibers were significantly higher in periductal and ampular locations in comparison with dorsal and ventral sites. It can be concluded that the relative amount of nerve fibers in rat prostate, detected by PGP 9.5, does not change during postnatal development. There were significant changes in NPY and VIP fibers, showing an increase in periurethral ducts at puberty. The abundance of peptidergic innervation around the excretory ducts is related to their contractility. The development of innervation of periurethral ducts is regulated by androgens.

Neurturin regulates postnatal differentiation of parasympathetic pelvic ganglion neurons, initial axonal projections, and maintenance of terminal fields in male urogenital organs

“…In contrast to the urinary bladder, innervation of the mouse reproductive organs occurred more slowly in the postnatal period, as reported previously for rats (Properzi et al,1992; Rodriguez et al,2005). During this time, there are substantial changes in organ structure.…”

Analysis of Nerve Supply Pattern in Thoracic Duct in Young and Elderly Men

“…16 In each field under analysis, L v represents the density of nerve profile per unit volume. The volume of analysis consisted in total area of analysis field · slides thickness (300 · 10 5 lm 3 ).…”

Different types of small nerve fibers in eutopic endometrium and myometrium in women with endometriosis

“…Neuropeptide Y co-exists with noradrenaline in most sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerve fibers (23) and is considered to regulate vascular tone and exert inhibitory effect on myometrial contractility (21). Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide is a potent vasodilator of the uterine artery, and can be involved in the relaxation of nonvascular and vascular smooth muscle, myometrial blood flow increase, ovarian steroidogenesis and ovulation, vaginal lubricant, and endometrial glandular secretion (24,25). Acetylcholine is associated with myometrial and vascular smooth muscle (26), and evokes contraction of the myometrium (27).…”