Smooth Muscle Organization and Nerves in the Rat Vagina: A First Look Using Tissue Clearing and Immunolabeling
Smooth Muscle Organization and Nerves in the Rat Vagina: A First Look Using Tissue Clearing and Immunolabeling
复制标题
DOI：
10.1007/s10439-022-02928-x
复制
发表时间：
2022-02-19
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
De Vita, Raffaella
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Huntington, Alyssa J.;Udayasuryan, Barath;De Vita, Raffaella
阴道内的平滑肌纤维，以及参与其控制机制的神经纤维，对于阴道长度和张力的维持和改变是重要的。阴道平滑肌（VaSM）通常被描述为排列成两个不同的同心层：内圆形肌肉层和外纵向肌肉层。然而，VaSM在纵向（LD）和周向（CD）上的分布从未被量化。在本研究中，通过组织清除和免疫组织化学，使整个大鼠阴道（n = 6）内的VaSM及其周围神经无需组织切片即可成像，保留了器官的三维结构。使用这些方法，从远端到近端，通过肌肉层的全厚度来观察阴道。定量测定近端和远端VaSM的取向以及LD和CD的VaSM含量。此外，还进行了阴道神经的定性评估。当使用沃森U-2测试的置换版本进行比较时，发现6个成像大鼠阴道中有4个近端和远端VaSM的方向有显著差异（p = 0.000）。虽然阴道远端在LD -/+ 15度内和CD -/+ 15度内含有相似数量的VaSM，但阴道近端在LD方向上的VaSM比CD方向上的VaSM明显更多。神经纤维呈波浪状，平行或垂直于阴道内的血管和非血管平滑肌。显微结构分析，就像这里所做的一样，对于了解阴道的生理功能和病理变化是必要的。
Smooth muscle fibers within the vagina, as well as the nerve fibers that contribute to their control mechanisms, are important for the maintenance and alteration of vaginal length and tone. Vaginal smooth muscle (VaSM) is typically described as being arranged into two distinct concentric layers: an inner circular muscular layer and an outer longitudinal muscular layer. However, the distribution of VaSM oriented in the longitudinal direction (LD) and circumferential direction (CD) has never been quantified. In this study, tissue clearing and immunohistochemistry were performed so that the VaSM, and surrounding nerves, within whole rat vaginas (n = 6) could be imaged without tissue sectioning, preserving the three-dimensional architecture of the organs. Using these methods, the vagina was viewed through the full thickness of the muscularis layer, from the distal to the proximal regions. The VaSM orientation in the proximal and distal regions and the VaSM content along the LD and CD were quantified. Additionally, a qualitative assessment of vaginal nerves was performed. When compared using a permuted version of the Watson U-2 test, the orientation of VaSM in the proximal and distal regions were found to be significantly different in 4 of the 6 imaged rat vaginas (p = 0.000). While the distal vagina contained a similar amount of VaSM oriented within -/+ 15 degrees of the LD and within -/+ 15 degrees of the CD, the proximal vagina contained significantly more VaSM oriented towards the LD than towards the CD. Nerve fibers were found to be wavy, running both parallel and perpendicular to vascular and non-vascular smooth muscle within the vagina. Micro-structural analyses, like the one conducted here, are necessary to understand the physiological function and pathological changes of the vagina.