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B Ottesen

Publications and source records attributed to B Ottesen.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide as a neurotransmitter in the female genital tract.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has been demonstrated in nerve fibers of the female genital tract localized in synaptic vesicles. The VIP-containing nerve fibers seem to innervate nonvascular smooth muscle, blood vessels, and epithelial cells. Evidence is accumulating that VIP fulfills a number of the classical criteria to be a neurotransmitter in the female genital tract. It is likely that VIP is the mediator of genital functions, which are controlled by noncholinergic, nonadrenergic nerve fibers. VIP seems to play a role in the local nervous control of uterine smooth muscle, e.g., opening of the uterotubal junctions, and to be involved in vasodilatation in the uterus as wells as the vagina. In conclusion, a third or peptidergic division of the autonomic nervous system seems to participate in the nervous control of reproduction.

Animals↗

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as a putative neurotransmitter in penile erection.

The localization of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) in the male genitourinary tract was investigated in the rabbit and man by means of radioimmunoassay and immunohistochemistry. In addition, the in vitro effect of VIP upon penile smooth muscle from man, the Vervet monkey, and the rabbit was investigated. Significant concentrations of VIP immunoreactivity were found in the human penis and all the organs of the rabbit genital tract apart from the testis. VIP immunoreactive nerve fibres were observed in the erectile tissue of the human and rabbit penis and in the other organs of the rabbit genital tract apart from the testis. Fibres were most abundant in association with blood vessels, in smooth muscle tissue, and subepithelially in glandular tissue. Strips of smooth muscle taken from the corpus cavernosum of Vervet monkey and man showed a dose-dependent relaxation in response to VIP at concentrations of 6 X 10(-8) mol X L-1 and 6 X 10(-7) mol X L-1. The data indicate that VIP may be an inhibitory neurotransmitter involved in the nervous control of penile erection.

Adult↗

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) increases vaginal blood flow and inhibits uterine smooth muscle activity in women.

The human vagina and uterus are heavily innervated by VIP-containing nerve fibres. In the present study, we have measured vaginal blood flow, transmucosal oxygen tension and uterine smooth muscle activity during stepwise intravenous infusion of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) (0, 100, 300, 900 pmol kg-1 h-1) in non-pregnant women. Vaginal blood flow was measured by the heat clearance technique, transmucosal oxygen tension by an O2-electrode and uterine activity by a micro-tip pressure catheter in the uterine cavity. Arterial blood pressure, pulse frequency and the concentration of VIP in peripheral venous blood were monitored. VIP induced a concentration-dependent increase in vaginal blood flow. The transmucosal oxygen tension was not significantly changed by VIP. The maximum dose of VIP decreased systolic as well as diastolic blood pressure and increased pulse frequency. VIP inhibited uterine activity. These findings suggest that VIP participates as a neurotransmitter in the control of genital physiological responses.

Adult↗

Neuropeptides in the regulation of female genital smooth muscle contractility.

The mammalian female genital tract is innervated with nerve fibers containing vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P, enkephalins and somatostatin. The effect of these peptides has been studied by in vitro tension recordings on smooth muscle preparations from the uterine body, cervix and Fallopian tube of eighteen women. Substance P (10(5) - 10(6) mol/l) had a dose-dependent stimulatory effect. VIP displayed a dose-dependently inhibitory effect on the substance P evoked contractions. Somatostatin, met-enkephalin and leu-enkephalin had neither stimulatory nor inhibitory effect. The findings suggest that substance P and VIP may participate in a dual nervous control of genital smooth muscle contractions.

Adult↗

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and the female genital tract: relationship to reproductive phase and delivery.

Recently, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) has been localized in nerve fibers in the human female genital tract. In the present investigation, the effect and concentration of VIP was studied in uterine tissue from pregnant and nonpregnant women, and the plasma concentration of VIP was measured in relationship to diurnal rhythm, intake of food, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, labor, age, and sexual arousal. In vitro VIP inhibited the contractions of the nonpregnant but not of the pregnant uterus. The median concentration of VIP in myometrium from pregnant women (less than 0.1 pmole/gm) was significantly lower than that in myometrium from nonpregnant women (1.6 pmoles/gm). The venous plasma concentrations of VIP during labor (10.5 to 13.0 pmoles/L) were significantly higher than those during pregnancy (2.0 to 5.0 pmoles/L) and the menstrual cycle of VIP increased significantly during sexual arousal, from 4.0 to 8.5 pmoles/L. The median arterial and venous concentrations in the umbilical cord (12.5 and 14.5 pmoles/L, respectively) were significantly higher than the concentration in maternal peripheral venous blood (5.2 pmoles/L). The plasma concentrations of VIP were not related to intake of food, diurnal rhythm, menstrual cycle, or age. The conclusion is that the function of VIP may be related to pregnancy, delivery, and sexual stimulation.

Adolescent↗

Increased myometrial blood flow evoked by substance P.

Substance P (SP), a vasoactive neuropeptide, has recently been demonstrated in the female genital tract. In the present paper we have investigated the relationship between substance P (0, 0.065, 6.5, 650 pmol X min-1 X kg-1) administered by close intraarterial infusions, and myometrial blood flow (MBF). The MBF was measured by the 133Xe washout technique in ten non-pregnant, estrogen pretreated, female rabbits anaesthetized with sodium pentobarbitone. SP increased MBF in a dose-dependent fashion. This effect was not influenced by cholinergic, adrenergic or enkephalinergic blocking agents, indicating a direct effect of substance P on vascular smooth muscle. Substance P may therefore play a physiological role in the local nervous control of myometrial blood flow.

Animals↗

Nervous release of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide from the feline uterus: pharmacological characteristics.

1. The release of the neuropeptide, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), from the uterus in response to electrical stimulation of the hypogastric and pelvic nerves was examined in non-pregnant anaesthetized cats. 2. Efferent stimulation of the pelvic nerve caused an increase in the release of VIP, which was unaffected by atropine and adrenoceptor antagonists, but completely abolished by hexamethonium. 3. Efferent stimulation of the hypogastric nerves induced a marked increase in the release of VIP, which was blocked by hexamethonium. After atropine and adrenoceptor blockade the nervously induced VIP response was undiminished and accompanied by an increase in uterine venous blood flow. 4. The results suggest that the VIP-containing neurones in the uterus are intrinsic under preganglionic influence of pelvic and hypogastric nervous activity. It is proposed that VIP is a neurotransmitter in the feline uterus involved in non-cholinergic, non-adrenergic mechanisms such as the uterine vasodilation observed after hypogastric nerve stimulation.

Animals↗

Vaginal physiology during menstruation.

We studied 18 young healthy women on the second, fourth, and 14th day of their menstrual cycle. Vaginal fluid was collected for measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide tension (PO2 and PCO2) and specimens were collected for bacteriologic examination. The vaginal pH was measured at four different sites and the redox potential was measured in the top of the vagina. Staphylococcus aureus was found in three women. The PO2 ranged from 0 to 77 mm Hg on day 2; 0 to 76 mm Hg on day 4; and 0 to 53 mm Hg on day 14. The mean PCO2 (+/- SE) was 46 +/- 2 mm Hg on day 2; 62 +/- 4.5 mm Hg on day 4; and 50.6 +/- 8.5 mm Hg on day 14. The mean vaginal pH (+/- SE) was significantly higher on day 2 (6.6 +/- 0.3) compared with day 4 (5.3 +/- 0.3) and day 14 (4.2 +/- 0.2). The redox potential was significantly higher on day 14 compared with day 2 and day 4. No differences were found in values of women who took birth control pills and those of the women who did not.

Adult↗

Effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on cerebral blood flow in the goat.

The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on the cerebral blood flow was investigated in the goat. An electromagnetic flow probe was placed around the internal maxillary artery for continuous measurement of ipsilateral blood flow. Intraarterial injection of VIP resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the cerebral blood flow. The effect was not antagonized by any of the antagonists atropine, propranolol, phentolamine and naloxone administered intraarterially 1 min before VIP. It is discussed that VIP may play a physiological role in the local blood flow regulation in the CNS.

Animals↗

Effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) upon myometrial blood flow in non-pregnant rabbit.

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) containing nerve fibres have previously been demonstrated in the female genital tract of several mammalian species including the rabbit. These nerve fibres seemingly innervate vascular and non-vascular smooth muscle. For that reason we investigated the dose-relationship between VIP (5, 50, 500 pmol . min-1 . kg-1) and myometrial blood flow (MBF) using Xenon-133 washout technique. VIP increased MBF dose-dependently. VIP was on molar base 100 times more potent than acetylcholine. The action of VIP seems to be direct on vascular smooth muscle rather than mediated by other neurotransmitters, because the MBF increase was not antagonized by atropine, adrenergic blocking agents or naloxone. These findings make it likely that VIP plays a role in the local nervous control of myometrial blood flow.

Acetylcholine↗

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP): effect on rabbit uterine smooth muscle in vivo and in vitro.

The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on uterine smooth muscle electrical and mechanical activity in non-pregnant estradiol-treated rabbits was investigated using in vivo and in vitro methods. The studies were performed on spontaneous, oxytocin-, carbachol-, and prostaglandin-42 alpha-induced activity. VIP had a dose-related inhibitory effect on both myoelectrical and mechanical activity. The concentration needed for 50% inhibition (ID50) was 2 x 10(-10) mol VIP . 1(-1) (in vivo), an 6 x 10(-8) mol VIP . 1(-1) (in vitro). This inhibition was unaffected by the presence of atropine (10(-5) mol . 1(-1)), propranolol (10(-5)), phentolamine (10(-5)), naloxone (10(-5)), apamin (10(-5)), and tetrodotoxin (10(-5)). These findings indicate that VIP may act via a specific receptor on the smooth muscle and supports the hypothesis that VIP may be a neurotransmitter involved in the local nervous control of uterine smooth muscle activity.

Animals↗

Increased myometrial blood flow evoked by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide in the non-pregnant goat.

1. The effect of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) on myometrial blood flow was evaluated in anaesthetized goats. A solution of VIP, or vehicle alone, was infused into the right internal iliac artery for a period of 10 min. The myometrial blood flow in both uterine horns was measured from the third to the seventh min of the infusion by the gas clearance technique after local injection of (133)xenon in 10 mul. saline solution. Blood samples were collected from both utero-ovarian veins 5 min from the onset of the infusion and the plasma concentration of VIP determined by radio-immunoassay.2. During infusion of vehicle before VIP, myometrial blood flow was of the same magnitude in both uterine horns, i.e. 0.06-0.12 ml./min per g. The blood flow of the right horn increased to 0.20-0.39 ml./min per g during infusion of VIP (300 p-mole/min) in the ipsilateral artery, whilst that of the left horn rose to 0.13-0.26 ml./min per g. The effect was sometimes observed to last for more than 40 min.3. Increased myometrial blood flow was observed with infusion rates down to 3 p-mole/min. Once a response to VIP had been provoked, however, the vasculature sometimes became refractory to further stimulation.4. The plasma concentration of VIP increased in both utero-ovarian veins during unilateral infusion of the peptide.5. Methylene blue given through the infusion catheter stained tissue in both uterine horns, further evidencing that their blood supply is not entirely separate.6. Uterine motility was observed to diminish during the VIP infusions.7. During infusion of VIP (300 p-mole/min) heart rate rose from 146 +/- 6 to 158 +/- 7 beats/min. No significant change occurred in arterial blood pressure.8. It is concluded that the increase in blood flow is due to a local response and that, since VIP has been demonstrated in uterine nerve endings, it may act as a neuro-transmitter mediating vasodilatation in the uterus.

Animals↗