Postnatal development and distribution of peptide-containing nerves in the genital system of the male rat

Abstract

The distribution and relative density of peptide-containing nerves was studied in the rat in order to assess the progression of neuronal changes during the postnatal development of the male genital system from the prepubertal age to adulthood. Testis, caput and cauda epididymis, ductus deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate and penis from 8-, 20-, 38-, and 70-day-old rats were sectioned and were immunostained with antisera to the neuropeptides calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY), and to a general neuronal marker, protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5). The testicular parenchyma and caput epididymis did not show any immunoreactivity. Very scattered CGRP-containing nerves were present in 8-day-old rats; numerous VIP-, CGRP-, and NPY-peptide-containing nerves were observed in the cauda epididymis, ductus deferens, accessory glands and penis of 20-day-old rats. The number of nerves increased in 35-day-old rats while no changes were observed in more adult rats. A parallel increase was seen for the immunostain for PGP 9.5. These data suggest that peptide-containing nerves appear in the genital system after birth and reach a full development before the completion of puberty. Peptide-containing nerves were visible first in the interstitial area and then spread in the muscular coat of the ducts, glands and of the blood vessels. While CGRP- and NPY-containing nerves were distributed in the vicinity of the muscle cells, VIP-containing nerves were also observed in the subepithelial regions, suggesting a possible role of this neuropeptide in the control of epithelial functions.

Decreased alpha-adrenergic constriction of renal preglomerular arteries occurs with age and is gender-specific in the rat

“…Weight gain among gender groups grew somewhat exponentially as is consistent with that already reported in the literature (Roth et al 1993;Anderson et al 1994;Galbusera et al 1988;Properzi et al 1992;Scolnick et al 1992;Sawaki et al 1995;Baylis 1994). In addition, male weights were significantly greater at all age groups compared to the female.…”

“…Aged animals are considered to be at or beyond an age of 15 months. These age categories have been reported to correspond with the human age parameters of early 40 s, mid-50 s, and 65 or greater (Roth et al 1993;Galbusera et al 1988;Properzi et al 1992;Scolnick et al 1992;Sawaki et al 1995). The table below provides a summarized comparison based on findings from the literature ( Table 1).…”

Immunohistochemical characterisation of cholinergic nerve fibres supplying accessory genital glands in the pig

“…VIP has been demonstrated in nerve fibres supplying the prostate and seminal vesicles in the guinea-pig, rat, cat, rabbit, mouse and humans. VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibres have been mainly associated with the basis of the glandular epithelium and, in smaller proportion, with the smooth muscle coat and blood vessels (Alm et al, 1980;Vaalasti et al, 1980Vaalasti et al, , 1986Larsen et al, 1981;Gu et al, 1983;Stjernquist et al, 1983;Polak and Bloom, 1984;Lamano Carvalho et al, 1986;Higgins and Gosling, 1989;Lange and Unger, 1990;Properzi et al, 1992;Jen et al 1995;Kepper and Keast, 1995;Tainio, 1995). Very little is known about the physiological role of VIP in AGG.…”

“…In the seminal vesicle of man (Adrian et al, 1984;Lange and Unger, 1990;Tainio, 1995) and rodents (Dhami and Mitchell, 1984;Lamano Carvalho et al, 1986;Stjernquist et al, 1987;Yuri, 1990;Properzi et al, 1992;Irvani and Zar, 1994) NPY-immunoreactive nerve fibres appear to be the major peptide-containing neuronal component. These fibres have been predominantly found in the smooth muscle layer of the glands, however, some of them have been detected in the subepithelial tissue and in association with blood vessels.…”

Innervation of the chinchilla testis, epididymis, and vas deferens

“…Innervation of the testes was already studied in the frog (1), rat (39), ruminants (33), donkey (36), cat (35), dog (29), pig (34), and human (27). The innervation of the epididymis was also comprehensively investigated in the rat (17) human (27), and many other mammals (7,24,36). The innervation of the vas deferens was also the subject of intense investigations.…”