Pregnancy reduces noradrenaline but not neuropeptide levels in the uterine artery of the guinea-pig |
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Authors: | M C Mione J F R Cavanagh J Lincoln P Milner G Burnstock |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and Centre for Neuroscience, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom |
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Abstract: | Summary Using histochemical, immunohistochemical and biochemical techniques, noradrenaline-, neuropeptide Y-, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-, substance P- and calcitonin gene-related peptide-containing nerve fibres were studied in the uterine artery of virgin, progesterone-treated and pregnant guinea-pigs. Morphological changes following hormone treatment or in pregnancy were also evaluated in a quantitative study on semithin sections of the uterine artery. In late pregnancy, the number of noradrenalinecontaining nerve fibres, which formed the densest plexus in virgin animals, was significantly decreased, a finding supported by a significant reduction in noradrenaline levels. This reduction was not mimicked by systemic progesterone treatment. In contrast, the innervation of the uterine artery by neuropeptide Y-containing nerve fibres was increased in pregnancy, while the other peptidergic nerves and peptide levels were unchanged after progesterone treatment and in pregnancy. These changes led to a predominance of innervation by neuropeptide Y- rather than noradrenaline-containing nerve fibres in late pregnancy. No morphological changes were detected following progesterone treament, but pregnancy led to a marked increase in the cross-sectional area of the vessel accompanied by an increase in the thickness of the media. |
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Keywords: | Pregnancy Progesterone Noradrenaline levels Neuropeptides Uterine artery Guinea-pig |
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