Distribution of vasoactive intestinal peptide and calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactive nerve fibers and binding sites in the hamster seminal vesicle during post-natal development

• Afonso, F. ^[2] ; Pinho, M.S. ^[2] ; Fernandes, P. ^[3] ; Mata, L.R. ^[1] ; Gulbenkian, S. ^[3]
  1. [1] Universidade de Lisboa

     Universidade de Lisboa

     Socorro, Portugal

     
  2. [2] Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal; Department of Morphology and Clinics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon, Portugal
  3. [3] Gulbenkian Institute of Science, Oeiras, Portugal

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• Localización: Histology and histopathology: cellular and molecular biology, ISSN-e 1699-5848, ISSN 0213-3911, Vol. 14, Nº. 3, 1999, págs. 761-770
• Idioma: inglés
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  • Th e distributi o n of vasoactiv e intestinal pe ptide (VIP)- a nd ca lc it o nin ge ne-re la ted pe ptide (CG RP)-immunoreactive ne rves and 125I-labeled VIPand CG RP-binding sites was studi ed in the hamste r seminal vesicle of 12-, 30- and 60-day-old animals. In addition, the general inne rvation of the seminal vesic le was examin ed usin g th e ge ne ra l neur o n a l ma rk e r synaptophysin.

    Our results show that the de nsities o f the overa ll (sy naptophysin immunoreactive) and CGRP-immunoreacti ve inne rva tion is constant during the post-nata l deve lo pme nt o f th e g la nd . Howeve r, a sig nifica nt dec rease in VIP-containing nerves is obse rved at the end of puberty. The autoradiographic study revealed that in 12-day-old animals, the epithelium presents VIP binding sites. However, in 30-day-old animals, VIP binding sites are obse rved in the epithelium of only a few clumps of acini. In 60-day-old animals, the gland is composed of acini with dil ated lumina where VIP binding sites are not detected. In all groups studi ed the epithelium does not exhibit CGRP binding sites. The seminal vesicle muscle layer displ ays specific binding sites for both VIP and CG RP at a ll post-natal deve lopment al times, but th e density of VIP binding sites is higher in 12- than in 30- and 60-day-old animals.

    Our results, showing the presence of specific VIP and CGRP binding sites during the development of the hamste r semin a l vesic le , s uggest th a t th ese ne uropeptides may be involved in the growth and differentiation of the gland.