Tachykinins and tachykinin receptors in human uterus

Abstract

1 Studies were undertaken to determine the nature of the receptors mediating contractile effects of tachykinins in the uteri of nonpregnant women, and to analyse the expression of preprotachykinins (PPT), tachykinin receptors and the cell-surface peptidase, neprilysin (NEP), in the myometrium from pregnant and nonpregnant women. 2 The neurokinin B (NKB) precursor PPT-B was expressed in higher levels in the myometrium from nonpregnant than from pregnant women. Faint expression of PPT-A mRNA was detectable in the myometrium from nonpregnant but not pregnant women. PPT-C, the gene encoding the novel tachykinin peptide hemokinin-1 (HK-1), was present in trace amounts in the uteri from both pregnant and nonpregnant women. 3 Tachykinin NK 2 receptors were more strongly expressed in tissues from nonpregnant than from pregnant women. NK 1 receptor mRNA was present in low levels in tissues from both pregnant and nonpregnant women. A low abundance transcript corresponding to the NK 3 receptor was present only in tissues from nonpregnant women. 4 The mRNA expression of the tachykinin-degrading enzyme NEP was lower in tissues from nonpregnant than from pregnant women. 5 Substance P (SP), neurokinin A (NKA) and NKB, in the presence of the peptidase inhibitors thiorphan, captopril and bestatin, produced contractions of myometrium from nonpregnant women. The order of potency was NKAbSPXNKB. The potency of NKA was unchanged in the absence of peptidase inhibitors. Nle 10 ]NKA(4 -10). 8 These data are consistent with a role of tachykinins in the regulation of human uterine function, and reinforce the importance of NK 2 receptors in the regulation of myometrial contraction.

Tachykinin and Tachykinin Receptor of an Ascidian, Ciona intestinalis

“…6). In recent studies, ␤-and ␥-PPTA were shown to be localized in Leydig cells of the human and mouse testis (47), and the expression of all PPTA, PPTB, and NK1 to -3 genes was also observed in nonneuronal cells of the mammalian uterus (48,49). Indeed, an elevation of some sexual steroid hormone-like substances was observed upon administration of Ci-TK-I on the ascidian gonad.…”

Analysis of the expression of neurokinin B, kisspeptin, and their cognate receptors NK3R and KISS1R in the human female genital tract

“…Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assays were performed as previously described elsewhere (21,29). Total RNA from approximately 30 mg of human tissue was isolated using TriReagent (Sigma), and complementary DNA (cDNA) was synthesized using the Quantitect Reverse Transcription kit (Qiagen).…”

“…The genes encoding NKB (TAC3/Tac2), NK 3 R (TACR3/Tacr3), and the tachykinin-metabolizing enzyme neprilysin are expressed in human, mouse, and rat uteruses, and their expression and function vary with age, during the ovarian cycle, and during the course of pregnancy (20,22,(26)(27)(28)(29)(30). In the mammalian uterus, Tacr3 expression is strongly downregulated under conditions of estrogen dominance (17,24,(27)(28)(29)(30)(31). This is, to our knowledge, the only mechanism described so far of regulation of the tachykinin NK 3 receptor.…”

Expression of NK1 receptor at the protein and mRNA level in the porcine female reproductive system

“…No studies dealing with the distribution of this receptor in the uterus exist. However, it is known that SP influences the contractility of the oviduct (Patak et al 2003). NK1 receptor is responsible for the increase of vascular permeability in the uterine horn and cervix after the antydromic stimulation of the dorsal radices of lumbar nerves associated with the SP release form C-type nerve fibers (Pinter and Szolcsanyi 1995).…”