Neuropeptide Y (NPY) co-exists with tyrosine hydroxylase and potentiates the adrenergic contractile response of vascular smooth muscle in the human uterine artery. |
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Authors: | M Stjernquist E Ekblad E Nordstedt C Radzuweit |
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Affiliation: | Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Lund, Malm?, Sweden. |
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Abstract: | The human uterine artery was studied by immunocytochemistry and in vitro pharmacology. Nerve fibres containing immunoreactivity for neuropeptide Y (NPY) were encountered in the media, adventitia, smooth muscle layers and surrounding the vasa vasorum. Approximately 50% of the nerve fibres containing NPY also stored immunoreactivity for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and TH activity was found in no other fibres. Noradrenaline (NA) contracted the isolated uterine artery in a concentration dependent manner. The presence of increasing doses of NPY shifted the concentration-response curve for NA to the left. Consequently the pD2-values were increased indicating a potentiation of the adrenergic effects induced by NPY. The results demonstrate the existence of NPY in adrenergic nerve fibres surrounding the human uterine artery. A close co-operation between NPY and NA in the neuronal control of smooth muscle is suggested. |
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Keywords: | uterine artery/neuropeptide Y/noradrenaline/adrenergic receptors/co-existence |
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