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Immunolocalization of regulatory peptides and 5-HT in bovine male
urogenital apparatus
S. Arrighi and C. Domeneghini
Institute of Domestic Animals Anatomy, Histology and Embryology,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Milan, Italy
Offprint requests to: Dott.
Silvana Arrighi, Istituto di Anatomia degli Animali Domestici, Via Celoria
10, I-20133 Milano, Italy
Summary. Specimens of testis,
excurrent duct including the accessory genital glands and urethra throughout
its extension were investigated in adult bovines, in order to immunohistochemically
localize both the peptidergic innervation and the epithelial cell types
belonging to the diffuse endocrine system (DES). Immunoreactivities to GRP,
met- and leu-enkephalins, CGRP, NPY, substance P, VIP, somatostatin, ß-endorphin
and 5-HT antisera were tested by means of a labelled streptavidin-biotin
(LSAB) method. Such regulatory substances were found in components of the
peripheral nervous system (nerve fibers in the connective and muscular tissues,
sub- and intraepithelial nerve terminals, nerve cell bodies and fibers in
intramural ganglia), and in epithelial endocrine/paracrine cells. Bovine
urogenital apparatus is supplied by many peptide-containing nerves, which
contain in many localizations GRP and enkephalins, and to a lesser extent
substance P, CGRP, NPY and VIP. A thin network of peptidergic nerves distributes
to the musculature of the canalicular organs and accessory glands. The prostatic
complex was especially rich in peptidergic innervation, and also contained
somatostatin- and 5-HT- secreting endocrine cells. In addition, 5-HT-immuno-reactive
endocrine cells were found in the bulbourethral gland and urethral epithelium.
CGRP-ir nerves were present contacting striated muscle fibers of urethra
(motor end plates). The testis was devoid of any immunoreactivity. These
data are compared with those obtained in a companion study carried out the
same organs in two species of Equidae (Equus caballus and Equus
asinus). Different patterns of immunoreactivities can be outlined in
these domestic ungulates. Histol. Histopathol. 13, 1049-1059 (1998)
Key words: Regulatory peptides,
5-HT, Endocrine cells, Male urogenital apparatus, Bos taurus
DOI: 10.14670/HH-13.1049
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