Effect of partial hysterectomy on the neurons of the paracervical ganglion (PCG) of the pig

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 26;16(1):e0245974. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245974. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Autonomic neurons innervating uterine horn is probably the only nerve cell population capable of periodical physiological degeneration and regeneration. One of the main sources of innervation of the uterus is paracervical ganglion (PCG). PCG is a unique structure of the autonomic nervous system. It contains components of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. The present study examines the response of neurons of PCG innervating uterine horn to axotomy caused by partial hysterectomy in the domestic pig animal model. The study was performed using a neuronal retrograde tracing and double immunofluorescent staining for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DβH), choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), neuronal nictric oxide synthase (nNOS), galanin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide (PACAP), somatostatin and substance P (SP). Our study showed that virtually all neurons of the porcine PCG innervating uterine horn are adrenergic and we did not confirm that PCG is the source of cholinergic fibers innervating uterine horn of the pig. After axotomy there was a decrease in expression of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes (TH, DβH) and a strong increase in the galanin expression. The increase of the number of NPY-IR neurons in the ganglia after axotomy was observed. There were no changes in the expression of other studied substances in the PCG neurons innervating the uterine horn, what was often found in rodents studies. This indicates that neurons can respond to damage in a species-specific way.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase / metabolism
  • Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / metabolism
  • Female
  • Ganglia, Spinal / metabolism*
  • Hysterectomy / methods*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase / metabolism
  • Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / metabolism
  • Somatostatin / metabolism
  • Substance P / metabolism
  • Swine
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / metabolism
  • Uterus / innervation*
  • Uterus / metabolism
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide / metabolism
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide
  • Vesicular Acetylcholine Transport Proteins
  • Substance P
  • Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
  • Somatostatin
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
  • Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase

Grants and funding

PP. Supported by grant 3P06K 034 24, from the Polish Committee for Scientific Research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.