Peptidergic innervation of the human and guinea pig uterus.

The peptidergic innervation of the human and guinea pig uterus was studied using immunohistochemical methods. Antibodies against several peptides were applied for the PAP-technique to stain peptidergic nerves specifically. These are located in the adventitia of large uterine vessels in the myometrium and smaller vessels of the myometrium and endometrium. A differential distribution of the individual peptides was observed for VIP-IR (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity), NPY-IR (neuropeptide Y), SP-IR (substance P), SOM-IR (somatostatin) and NT-IR (neurotensin) nerve fibers. Specific functional implications for these neuropeptides can be derived from their histochemical location.