Summary
The uterine paracervical ganglion (Frankenhauser's ganglion) contains the terminal neurons of the cholinergic sacral parasympathetic, the short adrenergic sympathetic and the peptideric (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-containing) nerves of the internal genitalia. Previous studies have shown that either the number of cells or transmitter content of each of these neuronal systems is altered by variations in steroid hormones. Furthermore, our recent study showed that some component of the rat paracervical ganglion was capable of metabolizing [3H]oestradiol to oestrone and the 2-OH and 4-OH forms of oestrone and oestradiol. The present study employs the peroxidase-anti-peroxidase immunohistochemical method to localize oestradiol in rat paracervical ganglia. Specific reaction product was identified in (1) cytoplasm and some nuclei of principal ganglion cells, (2) cytoplasm of large vacuolated ganglion cells, (3) cytoplasm of'small intensely fluorescent' cells and (4) some nerve fibres in ganglia from animals in oestrus. The cytoplasm of principal neurons and some nerve fibres exhibited specific staining for oestradiol in dioestrus and pro-oestrus. No oestradiol was localized in ganglia excised from animals in metoestrus. Preincubation in oestradiol before fixation was necessary for specific localization of oestradiol; treatment of tissues with oestradiol after fixation was not required. These results are not consistent with binding of oestradiol to the classical oestrogen receptor. The resistance of oestradiol to organic solvent extraction suggests that oestradiol is covalently bound to tissue proteins. Such covalently bound oestradiol has been reported as a by-product of tissue metabolism of oestradiol via P-450 enzymes.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adham, N. &Schenk, E. A. (1969) Autonomic innervation of the rat vagina, cervix, and uterus and its cyclic variation.Am. J. Obstef. Gynecol. 104, 508–16.
Alm, P., Alumets, J., Hakanson, R., Owman, CH., Sjoberg, N.-O., Sundler, F. &Walles, B. (1980) Origin and distribution of VIP (vasoactive intestinal polypeptide) nerves in the genito-urinary tract,Cell Tissue Res. 205, 337–47.
Ball, R. &Knuppen, R. (1980) Catecholoestrogens.Acta endocrinol (Copenhagen), Suppl 232: 47
Baker, H. A. (1976)A role of catecholamines in estrogen-induced uterine hyperemia in the rat. PhD thesis, University of lowa.
Ciaranello, R. D., Jacobowitz, D. &Axelrod, J. (1973) Effect of glucocorticoids and phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase in neonatal rat chromaffin tissue.J. Neurochem. 29, 799–805.
Clancey, C. J., Owen-Fett, C., Farley, D. B. &Van Orden, D. E. (1983) High performance liquid chromatographic resolution of catechol estrogens: Use as a screening procedure for evaluation of in vitro metabolism of [3H]oestradiol.J. Chromatography 256, 335–40.
Fisher, B., Gunduz, N., Zheng, S. &Saffer, E. (1982) Fluoresceinated estrone binding by human and mouse breast cancer cells.Cancer Res. 42, 540–9.
Ghosh, L., Ghosh, B. C. &Dasgupta, T. K. (1978) Immunocytological localization of estrogen in human mammary carcinoma cells by horseradish-anti-horseradish peroxidase complex.J. Surg. Oncol. 10, 221–4.
Jensen, E. V. &Desombre, E. R. (1971) Effects of ovarian hormones at the subcellular level. InCurrent Topics in Experimental Endocrinology (edited byMartini, L., andJames, V. H. T.), p. 243: New York: Academic Press.
Kanerva, L. & hervonen, A. (1976) SIF cells, short adrenergic neurons and vacuolated nerve cells of the paracervical (Frankenhauser) ganglion. InSIF Cells Vol. 3. (edited byEranko, O.), pp. 19–34,Fogarty Int. Center Proc.
Kurzon, R. M. &Sternberger, L. A. (1978) Estrogen receptor immunocytochemistry.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 26, 803–8.
Lloyd, T. &Weisz, J. (1978) Direct inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase activity by catechol estrogens.Biol. Chem. 253, 4841–3.
Long, J. A. &Evans, H. M. (1922) The oestrus cycle in the rat and its associated phenomena.Mem. Univ. Calif. 6, 1–148.
Penney, G. C. &Hawkins, R. A. (1982) Histochemical detection of estrogen receptors: a progress report.Br. J. Cancer 45, 237–46.
Pertschuk, L. P., Tobin, E. H., Tanapat, P., Gaetjens, E., Carter, A. C., Bloom, N. D., Macchia, R. J. &Eisenberg, K. B. (1980) Histochemical analysis of steroid hormone receptors in breast and prostatic carcinoma.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 28, 799–810.
Sjoberg, N.-O. (1967) The adrenergic transmitter of the female reproductive tract: distribution and functional changes.Acta physiol. Scand. Suppl.305, 1–32.
Stephanini, M., Demartino, C. &Zamboni, L. (1967) Fixation of ejaculated spermatozoa for electron microscopy.Nature (Lond.) 216, 173–4.
Sternberger, L. A., Hardy, P. H., Cuculis, J. J. &Meyer, H. G. (1970) The unlabeled antibody enzyme method of immunocytochemistry: Preparation and properties of soluble antigen-antibody complex (horseradish peroxidase-antiperoxidase) and its use in identification of spirochetes.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 18, 315–33.
Takahashi, C. (1960) On the formation of vacuoles in the nerve cells of the ganglion cervicalis uteri of the rat and mouse.Okajimas Folia Anat. Jap. 34, 189–200.
Vaitukaitis, J., Robbins, J. B., Nieschlag, E. &Ross, G. T. (1971) A method for producing specific antisera with small doses of immunogen.J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 33, 988–91.
Van Orden, D. E., Klemm, J. &Redick, J. A. (1977) A technique for immunohistochemical localization of prostaglandin E.J. Histochem. Cytochem. 25, 1291–6.
Van Orden, D. E., Farley, D. B. &Clancey, C. J. (1982) The effect of parasympathetic decentralization and paracervical ganglion excision on reproductive function in the rat.Biol. Reprod. 28, 910–6.
Williams, T. H., Chiba, T., Black, S. C., Jr.,Bhalla, R. C. & Jew, J. (1976) Species variation in SIF cells of superior cervical ganglia: Are there two functional types in SIF cells? InSIF Cells vol. 3. (edited byEranko, O.), pp. 143–62.Frogarty Int. Center Proc.
Zehr, D. R., Satyaswaroop, P. G. &Sheehan, D. M. (1981) Nonspecific staining in the immunolocalization of estrogen receptors.J. Steroid Biochem. 14, 613–7.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Thompson, S.A., Radde, L., Farley, D.B. et al. Immunocytochemical localization of tissuebound oestradiol in rat paracervical ganglion. Histochem J 17, 493–506 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01003209
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01003209