Immunocytochemistry of paraneurons in the female urethra of the horse, cattle, sheep, and pig

Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe the presence of neuroendocrine (NE) cells (paraneurons), producing biogenic amines and/or peptidergic hormones, in the female urethra of cattle, sheep, pigs, and horses, by means of histochemical and double labeling immunofluorescent techniques. 5-Hydroxy-tryptamine-, chromogranin A-, cholecystokinin- and somatostatin-containing NE cells are present in the urethral epithelium of all the species studied, with the unique exception of the lack of somatostatin cells in the horse. Paraneurons containing 5-hydroxytryptamine colocalized with chromogranin A or cholecystokinin were also found in all subjects. Such active substances are hypothesized to play a role in the contraction of the urethral musculature, emission of urogenital fluids, and inhibition of endocrine and exocrine secretions.

Bitter triggers acetylcholine release from polymodal urethral chemosensory cells and bladder reflexes

“…Double-labeling procedures revealed that these cells are distinct from the previously known urethral neuroendocrine cell population (12,13) expressing protein gene product 9.5, serotonin, and chromogranin A (Fig. 2 B and C and Table S1).…”

Purinergic Receptors Coupled to Intracellular Ca2+ Signals and Exocytosis in Rat Prostate Neuroendocrine Cells

“…The reaction mixture was incubated at 37°C for 30 min, followed by 95°C for 5 min. The reverse transcription reaction was then performed in the presence of 0.8 g of oligo(dT) 15 4 , and P2X 2 ) for 60 s, and 72°C for 90 s, followed by 72°C for 10 min. PCR products were then subjected to gel electrophoresis on a 1.5% agarose gel containing ethidium bromide.…”

“…PCR products were then subjected to gel electrophoresis on a 1.5% agarose gel containing ethidium bromide. The primers used for the PCR of P2Y 2 , P2Y 4 , P2X 1 , and P2X 3 were as follows (15,16): P2Y 2 sense, 5Ј-CTG CCA GGC ACC CGT GCT CTA CTT-3Ј; P2Y 2 antisense, 5Ј-CTG AGG TCA AGT GAT CGG AAG GAG-3Ј; P2Y 2 nested sense, 5Ј-GTC ACC ACC AGC GTG AGA GGG-3Ј; P2Y 2 nested antisense, 5Ј-GTA ATA GAG GGT GCG GGT GAC G-3Ј; P2Y 4 sense, 5Ј-CAC CGA TAC CTG GGT ATC TGC CAC-3Ј; P2Y 4 antisense, 5Ј-CAG ACA GCA AAG ACA GTC AGC ACC-3Ј; P2Y 4 nested sense, 5Ј-CCA CTG CGG GCA ATC CGC TGG-3Ј; P2Y 4 nested antisense, 5Ј-CCA CAG CAA TGG TAC GGA GGG-3Ј; P2X 1 sense, 5Ј-GAA GTG TGA TCT GGA CTG GCA CGT-3Ј; P2X 1 antisense, 5Ј-TGC GTC AAG TCC GGA TCT C-3Ј; P2X 1 nested sense, 5Ј-CGG ACT GTA TGG GGA GAA GA-3Ј, P2X 1 nested antisense: 5Ј-CCT CTT AGG CAG GAT GTG GA-3Ј; P2X 3 sense, 5Ј-CAA CTT CAG GTT TGC CAA A-3Ј; P2X 3 antisense, 5Ј-TGA ACA GTG AGG GCC TAG AT-3Ј; P2X 3 nested sense, 5Ј-ATC ATC CCC ACC ATT ATC-3Ј; and P2X 3 nested antisense, 5Ј-AAA TAG CAG CCC TTC TTC-3Ј.…”

“…Purinergic Stimulation and Exocytosis in RPNECs-Previous immunohistochemical studies suggest that prostatic neuroendocrine cells contain oxidizable amine compounds such as serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) (4,24). Therefore, in an effort to prove exocytosis in putative RPNECs, we performed amperometry using a CFE (Fig.…”

“…5 and 6), most likely serotonin (4,24). The single amperometric spikes in RPNECs usually display 5-10 ms of halfamplitude width.…”