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Biology of Reproduction, Vol 40, 371-378, Copyright © 1989 by Society for the Study of Reproduction

ARTICLES

Neuropeptide Y-containing nerves in rat gonads: sex difference and development

LG Allen, FJ Wilson and GJ Macdonald
Department of Anatomy, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway 08854-5635.

The objectives of the present study were 1) to evaluate for a sex difference in innervation of adult rat gonads by neuropeptide Y- immunoreactive (NPY-I) nerves and 2) to examine the development of innervation of rat gonads by NPY-I nerves during the fetal and neonatal periods. With fluorescence immunocytochemistry, NPY-I nerves were profuse in adult ovarian tissues. Ovarian blood vessels were particularly well innervated by NPY-I nerves, and nerves were also detected in interstitial gland tissues. No nerves were found within the testis, and NPY-I nerves were only rarely located within the tunica albuginea. During fetal life, ovaries were devoid of NPY-I nerves; however, nerves were visualized within the connective tissue immediately peripheral to the ovary on fetal Day 22. As early as postnatal Day 2, NPY-I nerves were observed in connective tissue septa of the developing ovary. By postnatal Day 12, NPY-I nerves surrounded developing follicles and blood vessels of the ovarian cortex. In the developing testis after postnatal Day 5, NPY-I nerves were limited to the tunica albuginea and surrounding large subcapsular blood vessels. Structures within the testis lacked innervation by NPY-I nerves. These anatomical studies suggest that NPY-I nerves are absent in the gonads during fetal life and grow into the ovary and not the testis during the perinatal period and that NPY-I nerves may play a role in the functioning of the rat ovary, but may not be important in control of testicular function.


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[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


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Copyright © 1989 by the Society for the Study of Reproduction.