Endometritis decreases the population of uterine neurons in the paracervical ganglion and changes the expression of sympathetic neurotransmitters in sexually mature gilts

Background The focus of the study was to examine the impact of the inflamed uterus on the population of the paracervical ganglion (PCG) uterus-innervating perikarya and their chemical coding. Fast Blue retrograde tracer was injected into the wall of uterine horns on the 17th day of the first studied estrous cycle. After 28 days, either Escherichia coli suspension or saline was applied to the horns of the uterus, whereas the control group received laparotomy only. Eight days after the above-mentioned procedures, uterine cervices with PCG were collected. Both macroscopic and histopathologic examinations confirmed severe acute endometritis in the Escherichia coli-injected uteri. The double immunofluorescence method was used to analyze changes in the PCG populations coded with dopamine-β‐hydroxylase (DβH) and/or neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Results The use of Escherichia coli lowered the total number of Fast Blue-positive neurons. Moreover, an increase in DβH+/VIP+, DβH+/NPY+, DβH+/SOM + and DβH+/nNOS + expressing perikarya was noted. A rise in non-noradrenergic VIP-, SOM- and nNOS-immunopositive populations was also recorded, as well as a drop in DβH-positive neurotransmitter-negative neurons. Conclusions To sum up, inflammation of the uterus has an impact on the neurochemical properties of the uterine perikarya in PCG, possibly affecting the functions of the organ.

Non-Specific Binding, a Limitation of the Immunofluorescence Method to Study Macrophages In Situ

Advances in understanding tissue regenerative mechanisms require the characterization of in vivo macrophages as those play a fundamental role in this process. This characterization can be approached using the immuno-fluorescence method with widely studied and used pan-markers such as CD206 protein. This work investigated CD206 expression in an irradiated-muscle pig model using three different antibodies. Surprisingly, the expression pattern during immunodetection differed depending on the antibody origin and could give some false results. False results are rarely described in the literature, but this information is essential for scientists who need to characterize macrophages. In this context, we showed that in situ hybridization coupled with hybridization-chain-reaction detection (HCR) is an excellent alternative method to detect macrophages in situ.

Abstract P803: Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide via Cyclic-AMP Inhibits Nogo-A by Internalizing Its Receptor NgR1

Introduction: After a stroke, axonal regeneration is inhibited by diverse axonal growth inhibitors, such as Nogo-A. They bind to the Nogo-A receptor 1 (NgR1) and induce the collapse of growth cones and inhibit neurite outgrowth. Since NgR1 is the receptor for a variety of axonal growth inhibitors, it is a crucial target for the prevention of axonal growth inhibition. Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) has neuroprotective and neurotrophic activities and increases neuritogenesis and synaptic plasticity. It enhances functional recovery after stroke in various animal models. Methods: Neuroscreen-1 (NS-1) cells were selected for this study as they produce rapid and robust neurite outgrowth with NGF. Cell surface NgR1 was detected using the indirect immunofluorescence method. The internalization of NgR1 was quantitated using the biotinylation method and Western immunoblotting. Results: Using the indirect immunofluorescence method, we found that PACAP (PACAP-38) induced a rapid decrease in the cell surface expression of NgR1 in NS-1 cells. The biotinylation method revealed that PACAP induced the internalization of NgR1. This internalization of NgR1 was blocked by pretreatment of NS-1 cells with SQ 22536, an inhibitor for adenylate cyclase, suggesting that cAMP plays a crucial role in the internalization of NgR1. The protein kinase A (PKA)-specific inhibitor KT5720 did not block PACAP-induced NgR1 internalization, whereas the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac)-specific inhibitor ESI-09 blocked this internalization. Collectively, this data suggests that PACAP-induced NgR1 internalization is independent of PKA but is dependent on Epac. The PACAP-induced decrease in cell surface expression of NgR1 and its internalization desensitized NS-1 cells to Nogo-66-induced growth cone collapse and enhanced neuritogenesis. Conclusion: Cyclic-AMP and Epac are involved in the PACAP-induced desensitization of neuronal cells to Nogo-A and increase in neuritogenesis. Since PACAP crosses the blood-brain barrier, it may be a useful therapeutic agent to overcome axonal growth inhibitors and enhance functional recovery after stroke.

Endometritis Changes the Neurochemical Characteristics of the Caudal Mesenteric Ganglion Neurons Supplying the Gilt Uterus

This study analyzed the influence of uterine inflammation on the neurochemical characteristics of the gilt caudal mesenteric ganglion (CaMG) uterus-supplying neurons. The horns of uteri were injected with retrograde tracer Fast Blue on day 17 of the first studied estrous cycle. Twenty-eight days later (the expected day 3 of the third studied estrous cycle), either saline or Escherichia coli suspension were administered into each uterine horn. Only the laparotomy was done in the control gilts. After 8 days, the CaMGs and uteri were harvested. The infected gilts presented a severe acute endometritis. In the CaMGs, the populations of uterine perikarya possessing dopamine-β-hydroxylase (DβH) and/or neuropeptide Y (NPY), somatostatin (SOM), galanin (GAL) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) were analyzed using the double immunofluorescence method. In the CaMG, bacterial injection decreased the total number of the perikarya (Fast Blue-positive), the small and large perikarya populations in the dorsal and central regions, and the small and large perikarya populations coded DβH+/GAL- and DβH-/NPY+. After bacterial treatment, there was an increase in the numbers of small and large perikarya coded DβH+/NPY+, small perikarya coded DβH+/GAL+ and DβH+/SOM- and large perikarya coded DβH+/VIP+. To summarize, uterine inflammation influences the neurochemical characteristics of the CaMG uterus-supplying neurons, which may be important for pathologically changed organ functions.