Abstract
Purpose: To characterize the distribution of cholinergic nerves in the human corpus cavernosum (CC) and spongiosum (CS) using antibodies to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), and to compare this distribution to those of other transmitters/mediators or transmitter/mediator generating enzymes (heme oxygenases: HO-1 and HO-2; neuronal and endothelial NO synthases: nNOS and eNOS; vasoactive intestinal polypeptide: VIP; and tyrosine hydroxylase: TH), and to investigate NO- and carbon monoxide (CO)-mediated effects. Materials and Methods: Immunocytochemistry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, radioimmunoassay, and functional in vitro studies. Results: Along strands of smooth muscle in the CC and CS, rich numbers of VAChT- , nNOS-, VIP-, TH-, and very few HO-1-immunoreactive (-IR) nerve fibers were observed. Immunoreactivities for VAChT and nNOS, VAChT and VIP, and nNOS and VIP, were generally found in the same varicose nerve terminals. TH-IR nerve fibers or terminals did not contain immunoreactivities for VAChT, NOS or VIP. In the endothelium lining penile arteries, immunoreactivities for eNOS, HO-1, and HO-2 were detected. Single endothelial cells, lining the sinusoidal walls of the CC and CS, were found also to contain eNOS and HO-immunoreactivities. Noradrenaline (NA)-contracted preparations of CC and CS were relaxed by NO, CO, carbachol and by electrical stimulation of nerves. Inhibition of NO synthesis abolished electrically- and carbachol-induced relaxation. In NA- activated strips, relaxation induced by exogenously applied NO, but not those by CO, were accompanied by increases in intracellular levels of cyclic GMP. Conclusions: VAChT, NOS and VIP are found in the same nerve terminals within the human CC and CS, suggesting that these terminals comprise a distinct population of parasympathetic, cholinergic nerves. Endothelially derived NO and the HO/CO system may have a complementary role in penile erection.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 868-875 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Journal of Urology |
| Volume | 164 |
| Issue number | 3 I |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 2000 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Co-localization
- Confocal microscopy
- Innervation
- Penile erection
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Urology
Cite this
Cholinergic nerves in human corpus cavernosum and spongiosum contain nitric oxide synthase and heme oxygenase. / Hedlund, Petter; Ny, Lars; Alm, Per; Andersson, Karl Erik.
In: Journal of Urology, Vol. 164, No. 3 I, 09.2000, p. 868-875.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cholinergic nerves in human corpus cavernosum and spongiosum contain nitric oxide synthase and heme oxygenase
AU - Hedlund, Petter
AU - Ny, Lars
AU - Alm, Per
AU - Andersson, Karl Erik
PY - 2000/9
Y1 - 2000/9
N2 - Purpose: To characterize the distribution of cholinergic nerves in the human corpus cavernosum (CC) and spongiosum (CS) using antibodies to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), and to compare this distribution to those of other transmitters/mediators or transmitter/mediator generating enzymes (heme oxygenases: HO-1 and HO-2; neuronal and endothelial NO synthases: nNOS and eNOS; vasoactive intestinal polypeptide: VIP; and tyrosine hydroxylase: TH), and to investigate NO- and carbon monoxide (CO)-mediated effects. Materials and Methods: Immunocytochemistry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, radioimmunoassay, and functional in vitro studies. Results: Along strands of smooth muscle in the CC and CS, rich numbers of VAChT- , nNOS-, VIP-, TH-, and very few HO-1-immunoreactive (-IR) nerve fibers were observed. Immunoreactivities for VAChT and nNOS, VAChT and VIP, and nNOS and VIP, were generally found in the same varicose nerve terminals. TH-IR nerve fibers or terminals did not contain immunoreactivities for VAChT, NOS or VIP. In the endothelium lining penile arteries, immunoreactivities for eNOS, HO-1, and HO-2 were detected. Single endothelial cells, lining the sinusoidal walls of the CC and CS, were found also to contain eNOS and HO-immunoreactivities. Noradrenaline (NA)-contracted preparations of CC and CS were relaxed by NO, CO, carbachol and by electrical stimulation of nerves. Inhibition of NO synthesis abolished electrically- and carbachol-induced relaxation. In NA- activated strips, relaxation induced by exogenously applied NO, but not those by CO, were accompanied by increases in intracellular levels of cyclic GMP. Conclusions: VAChT, NOS and VIP are found in the same nerve terminals within the human CC and CS, suggesting that these terminals comprise a distinct population of parasympathetic, cholinergic nerves. Endothelially derived NO and the HO/CO system may have a complementary role in penile erection.
AB - Purpose: To characterize the distribution of cholinergic nerves in the human corpus cavernosum (CC) and spongiosum (CS) using antibodies to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), and to compare this distribution to those of other transmitters/mediators or transmitter/mediator generating enzymes (heme oxygenases: HO-1 and HO-2; neuronal and endothelial NO synthases: nNOS and eNOS; vasoactive intestinal polypeptide: VIP; and tyrosine hydroxylase: TH), and to investigate NO- and carbon monoxide (CO)-mediated effects. Materials and Methods: Immunocytochemistry, confocal laser scanning microscopy, radioimmunoassay, and functional in vitro studies. Results: Along strands of smooth muscle in the CC and CS, rich numbers of VAChT- , nNOS-, VIP-, TH-, and very few HO-1-immunoreactive (-IR) nerve fibers were observed. Immunoreactivities for VAChT and nNOS, VAChT and VIP, and nNOS and VIP, were generally found in the same varicose nerve terminals. TH-IR nerve fibers or terminals did not contain immunoreactivities for VAChT, NOS or VIP. In the endothelium lining penile arteries, immunoreactivities for eNOS, HO-1, and HO-2 were detected. Single endothelial cells, lining the sinusoidal walls of the CC and CS, were found also to contain eNOS and HO-immunoreactivities. Noradrenaline (NA)-contracted preparations of CC and CS were relaxed by NO, CO, carbachol and by electrical stimulation of nerves. Inhibition of NO synthesis abolished electrically- and carbachol-induced relaxation. In NA- activated strips, relaxation induced by exogenously applied NO, but not those by CO, were accompanied by increases in intracellular levels of cyclic GMP. Conclusions: VAChT, NOS and VIP are found in the same nerve terminals within the human CC and CS, suggesting that these terminals comprise a distinct population of parasympathetic, cholinergic nerves. Endothelially derived NO and the HO/CO system may have a complementary role in penile erection.
KW - Co-localization
KW - Confocal microscopy
KW - Innervation
KW - Penile erection
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0033887686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0033887686&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 10953170
AN - SCOPUS:0033887686
VL - 164
SP - 868
EP - 875
JO - Journal of Urology
JF - Journal of Urology
SN - 0022-5347
IS - 3 I
ER -