Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the female rat urogenital tract |
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Authors: | M A Ghatei J Gu P K Mulderry M A Blank J M Allen J F Morrison J M Polak S R Bloom |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London W12 OHS, U.K.;2. Department of Histochemistry, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London W12 OHS, U.K.;3. Department of Physiology, Leeds University, Leeds, U.K. |
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Abstract: | CGRP-immunoreactivity was found throughout the female rat urogenital tract by specific radioimmunoassay, and shown to be present in nerve fibres by immunocytochemistry. The highest concentrations of CGRP-like immunoreactivity were found in the urinary tract, with lower levels in regions of the genitalia. Chromatographic analysis of bladder and vaginal extracts on Sephadex G-50 columns and HPLC revealed at least three CGRP-immunoreactive peaks. The major peak emerged in the same position as synthetic rat CGRP. CGRP nerve fibres were associated mainly with blood vessels, non-vascular smooth muscle, squamous epithelium and uterine and cervical glands, and were particularly abundant in the ureter and bladder. CGRP-immunoreactivity was depleted by neonatal treatment with capsaicin and after surgical section of pelvic and/or hypogastric nerves. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated that depletion occurred predominantly in the mucosal layer of the urogenital tract. These findings indicate a sensory function for most of the CGRP-immunoreactive nerves in the rat urogenital tract. |
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Keywords: | Calcitonin gene-related peptide Radioimmunoassay Immunocytochemistry Rat urinary tract Female rat genitalia Capsaicin 6-Hydroxydopamine Hypogastric nerve Pelvic nerve Sensory nerves High pressure liquid chromatography |
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