豚鼠阴茎海绵体中ICC和NO信号通路的形态学关系

目的初步探讨豚鼠阴茎海绵体组织中cajal间质细胞（ICC）和神经型一氧化氮合成酶（nNOS）阳性神经元的分布及两者的组织学关系。方法①制作成年豚鼠阴茎海绵体组织冰冻切片,利用c-kit/nNOS免疫荧光双染技术,激光共聚焦扫描显微镜（LSCM）下观察阴茎海绵体ICC及nNOS阳性神经元的形态及分布情况。②酶消化法体外培养阴茎海绵体ICC,c-kit/nNOS免疫荧光双染,LSCM下观察细胞形态及c-kit和nNOS的表达情况。结果 ICC分布在阴茎海绵体平滑肌小梁边缘及平滑肌肌间,纺锤形,具有长的突起,胞体呈圆形或椭圆形,并且表达nNOS;阴茎海绵体平滑肌小梁边缘及平滑肌肌间同时分布有ICC和nNOS阳性神经元,局部nNOS阳性神经主干附近可见较多ICC分布。结论豚鼠阴茎海绵体ICC与nNOS阳性神经元组织联系紧密,ICC可能参与阴茎海绵体内NO神经信号的传递。

Morphological association between ICC and signaling pathway of NO in guinea pig corpus cavernosum

Objective To investigate the distribution of ICC and nNOS positive neurons in the corpus cavernosum of guinea pig and the histological association.Methods Using c-kit/nNOS immunofluorescence double staining of frozen sections of adult guinea pig corpus cavernosum,we observed the morphology and distribution of corpus cavernosum ICC and nNOS-positive neurons under laser scanning confocal microscope(LSCM).Using c-kit/nNOS immunofluorescence double staining of cultured ICC by enzyme digestion,we observed the morphology and the expression of c-kit and nNOS under laser scanning confocal microscope.Results ICC were located near the boundaries of smooth muscle meshwork and interstice of smooth muscle,spindle-shaped,with long processes,round or oval-shaped cell body and expressed nNOS.ICC and nNOS-positive neurons were located on the boundaries of the smooth muscle meshwork and interstice of smooth muscle,and abundant ICC could be seen around nNOS-positive nerve trunk.Conclusions ICC are closely associated with nNOS-positive neurons in the corpus cavernosum of guinea pig,indicating that ICC may participate in the transduction of NO signal from nerves to smooth muscle cells.