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Beetson, Karl A., Smith, Stephanie F. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9290-3773, Muneer, Asif, Cameron, Norman E., Cotter, Mary A. and Cellek, Selim
(2013)
Vasa nervorum in rat major pelvic ganglion are innervated by nitrergic nerve fibers.
Journal of Sexual Medicine, 10 (12).
pp. 2967-2974.
ISSN 1743-6095
Abstract
Introduction: The vasa nervorum comprises a network of small diameter blood vessels that provide blood supply to nerves and ganglia. The cell bodies of autonomic nerves innervating the urogenital organs are housed in the major pelvic ganglia (MPG) in rats. The vasa nervorum of rat MPG have not been characterized previously, and it is not known whether these blood vessels are innervated by neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) containing nitrergic nerves. Aim: To characterize the blood vessels in and around the rat MPG and to assess their nitrergic innervation. Main Outcome Measures: Characterization of small blood vessels in and around the rat MPG and expression of nNOS in nerve fibers around those blood vessels. Methods: MPG were obtained from healthy Sprague Dawley rats, fixed in paraformaldehyde, frozen and sectioned using a cryostat. The blood vessels and their nitrergic innervation were assessed with immunohistochemistry using antibodies against alpha-smooth muscle actin (smooth muscle marker), CD31 (endothelial marker), collagen IV (basal membrane marker) and nNOS. The immunofluorescence was imaged using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Results: The neuronal cell bodies were contained within a capsule in the MPG. Blood vessels were observed within the capsule of the MPG as well as outside the capsule. The blood vessels inside the capsule were CD31-positive capillaries with no smooth muscle staining. Outside the capsule capillaries, arterioles and venules were observed. The extra-capsular arterioles and venules, but not the capillaries were innervated by nNOS-positive nerve fibers. Conclusions: This study, to our knowledge, is the first to demonstrate the blood vessel distribution pattern and their nitrergic innervation in the rat MPG. While similar studies in human pelvic plexus are warranted, these results suggest that the blood flow in the MPG may be regulated by nitrergic nerve fibers and reveal a reciprocal relationship between nerves and blood vessels. Beetson KA, Smith SF, Muneer A, Cameron NE, Cotter MA, and Cellek S. Vasa nervorum in rat major pelvic ganglion are innervated by nitrergic nerve fibers. J Sex Med 2013;10:2967-2974.
| Item Type: | Article |
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| Additional Information: | Funding Information: This project was funded by a research grant from the European Society for Sexual Medicine. S.F.S. received vacation scholarships from the Wellcome Trust and British Pharmacological Society. Preliminary results from this work were presented at the 14th and 15th Annual Congresses of the European Society for Sexual Medicine in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and at the 2nd Joint Meeting of the British and American Microcirculation Societies in 2012. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | autonomic,autonomic nerves,erectile dysfunction,lower urinary tract symptoms,nitrergic,nitric oxide,nnos,urogenital,reproductive medicine,obstetrics and gynaecology,urology,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2700/2743 |
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| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 30 Oct 2021 00:47 |
| Last Modified: | 31 Jan 2024 03:15 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/81932 |
| DOI: | 10.1111/jsm.12313 |
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