Papka R E, Traurig H H, Schemann M, Collins J, Copelin T, Wilson K
Department of Neurobiology, Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown 44272, USA.
Cell Tissue Res. 1999 May;296(2):293-305. doi: 10.1007/s004410051290.
Acetylcholine (ACh) stimulates contraction of the uterus and dilates the uterine arterial supply. Uterine cholinergic nerves arise from the paracervical ganglia and were, in the past, characterized based on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry. However, the histochemical reaction for acetylcholinesterase provides only indirect evidence of acetylcholine location and is a nonspecific marker for cholinergic nerves. The present study: (1) reevaluated cholinergic neurons of the paracervical ganglia, (2) examined the cholinergic innervation of the uterus by using retrograde axonal tracing and antibodies against molecules specific to cholinergic neurons, choline acetyltransferase and the vesicular acetylcholine transporter, and (3) examined muscarinic receptors in the paracervical ganglia using autoradiography and a radiolabeled agonist. Most ganglionic neurons were choline acetyltransferase- and vesicular acetylcholine transporter-immunoreactive and were apposed by choline acetyltransferase/vesicular acetylcholine transporter-immunoreactive terminals. Retrograde tracing showed that some cholinergic neurons projected axons to the uterus. These nerves formed moderately dense plexuses in the myometrium, cervical smooth muscle and microarterial system of the uterine horns and cervix. Finally, the paracervical ganglia contain muscarinic receptors. These results clearly reveal the cholinergic innervation of the uterus and cervix, a source of these nerves, and demonstrate the muscarinic receptor content of the paracervical ganglia. Cholinergic nerves could play significant roles in the control of uterine myometrium and vasculature.
乙酰胆碱（ACh）可刺激子宫收缩并扩张子宫动脉供血。子宫胆碱能神经起源于宫颈旁神经节，过去是根据乙酰胆碱酯酶（AChE）组织化学来进行特征描述的。然而，乙酰胆碱酯酶的组织化学反应仅提供乙酰胆碱定位的间接证据，并且是胆碱能神经的非特异性标志物。本研究：（1）重新评估宫颈旁神经节的胆碱能神经元，（2）通过逆行轴突追踪以及使用针对胆碱能神经元特异性分子、胆碱乙酰转移酶和囊泡乙酰胆碱转运体的抗体来检查子宫的胆碱能神经支配，（3）使用放射自显影术和放射性标记激动剂检查宫颈旁神经节中的毒蕈碱受体。大多数神经节神经元呈胆碱乙酰转移酶和囊泡乙酰胆碱转运体免疫反应阳性，并且与胆碱乙酰转移酶/囊泡乙酰胆碱转运体免疫反应阳性的终末相邻。逆行追踪显示一些胆碱能神经元将轴突投射至子宫。这些神经在子宫肌层、宫颈平滑肌以及子宫角和宫颈的微动脉系统中形成中等密度的神经丛。最后，宫颈旁神经节含有毒蕈碱受体。这些结果清楚地揭示了子宫和宫颈的胆碱能神经支配、这些神经的来源，并证明了宫颈旁神经节中毒蕈碱受体的含量。胆碱能神经可能在子宫肌层和血管系统的控制中发挥重要作用。
