Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus
Kelsi N. Dodds, Melinda A. Kyloh, Lee Travis, Elizabeth A.H. Beckett, Nick J. Spencer
College of Medicine and Public Health
Major sensory innervation to the uterus is provided by spinal afferent nerves, whose cell bodies lie predominantly in thoracolumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG). While the origin of the cell bodies of uterine spinal afferents is clear, the identity of their sensory endings has remained unknown. Hence, our major aim was to identify the location, morphology, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity of uterine spinal afferent endings supplied by thoracolumbar DRG. We also sought to determine the degree of uterine afferent innervation provided by the vagus nerve. Using an anterograde tracing technique, nulliparous female C57BL/6 mice were injected unilaterally with biotinylated dextran into thoracolumbar DRG (T13-L3). After 7–9 days, uterine horns were stained to visualize traced nerve axons and endings immunoreactive to CGRP. Whole uteri from a separate cohort of animals were injected with retrograde neuronal tracer (DiI) and dye uptake in nodose ganglia was examined. Anterogradely labeled axons innervated each uterine horn, these projected rostrally or caudally from their site of entry, branching to form varicose endings in the myometrium and/or vascular plexus. Most spinal afferent endings were CGRP-immunoreactive and morphologically classified as "simple-type." Rarely, uterine nerve cell bodies were labeled in nodose ganglia. Here, we provide the first detailed description of spinal afferent nerve endings in the uterus of a vertebrate. Distinct morphological types of spinal afferent nerve endings were identified throughout multiple anatomical layers of the uterine wall. Compared to other visceral organs, uterine spinal afferent endings displayed noticeably less morphological diversity. Few neurons in nodose ganglia innervate the uterus.
Journal of Comparative Neurology
https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25070
E-pub ahead of print - 15 Nov 2020
dorsal root ganglia
nodose ganglia
spinal nerve
visceral pain
10.1002/cne.25070Licence: In Copyright
NHMRC/1156416
ARC/DP190103628
Fingerprint Dive into the research topics of 'Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
Spinal Nerves Medicine & Life Sciences
Nerve Endings Medicine & Life Sciences
Nodose Ganglion Medicine & Life Sciences
Uterus Medicine & Life Sciences
Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide Medicine & Life Sciences
Spinal Ganglia Medicine & Life Sciences
Cell Body Medicine & Life Sciences
Dodds, K. N., Kyloh, M. A., Travis, L., Beckett, E. A. H., & Spencer, N. J. (2020). Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus. Journal of Comparative Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25070
Dodds, Kelsi N. ; Kyloh, Melinda A. ; Travis, Lee ; Beckett, Elizabeth A.H. ; Spencer, Nick J. / Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus. In: Journal of Comparative Neurology. 2020.
@article{029904a35e964df59f29dc72a539a45d,
title = "Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus",
abstract = "Major sensory innervation to the uterus is provided by spinal afferent nerves, whose cell bodies lie predominantly in thoracolumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG). While the origin of the cell bodies of uterine spinal afferents is clear, the identity of their sensory endings has remained unknown. Hence, our major aim was to identify the location, morphology, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity of uterine spinal afferent endings supplied by thoracolumbar DRG. We also sought to determine the degree of uterine afferent innervation provided by the vagus nerve. Using an anterograde tracing technique, nulliparous female C57BL/6 mice were injected unilaterally with biotinylated dextran into thoracolumbar DRG (T13-L3). After 7–9 days, uterine horns were stained to visualize traced nerve axons and endings immunoreactive to CGRP. Whole uteri from a separate cohort of animals were injected with retrograde neuronal tracer (DiI) and dye uptake in nodose ganglia was examined. Anterogradely labeled axons innervated each uterine horn, these projected rostrally or caudally from their site of entry, branching to form varicose endings in the myometrium and/or vascular plexus. Most spinal afferent endings were CGRP-immunoreactive and morphologically classified as "simple-type." Rarely, uterine nerve cell bodies were labeled in nodose ganglia. Here, we provide the first detailed description of spinal afferent nerve endings in the uterus of a vertebrate. Distinct morphological types of spinal afferent nerve endings were identified throughout multiple anatomical layers of the uterine wall. Compared to other visceral organs, uterine spinal afferent endings displayed noticeably less morphological diversity. Few neurons in nodose ganglia innervate the uterus.",
keywords = "calcitonin gene-related peptide, dorsal root ganglia, nodose ganglia, spinal nerve, uterus, vagus nerve, visceral pain",
author = "Dodds, {Kelsi N.} and Kyloh, {Melinda A.} and Lee Travis and Beckett, {Elizabeth A.H.} and Spencer, {Nick J.}",
doi = "10.1002/cne.25070",
journal = "Journal of Comparative Neurology",
publisher = "WILEY-LISS",
Dodds, KN, Kyloh, MA, Travis, L, Beckett, EAH & Spencer, NJ 2020, 'Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus', Journal of Comparative Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25070
Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus. / Dodds, Kelsi N.; Kyloh, Melinda A.; Travis, Lee; Beckett, Elizabeth A.H.; Spencer, Nick J.
In: Journal of Comparative Neurology, 15.11.2020.
T1 - Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus
AU - Dodds, Kelsi N.
AU - Kyloh, Melinda A.
AU - Travis, Lee
AU - Beckett, Elizabeth A.H.
AU - Spencer, Nick J.
N2 - Major sensory innervation to the uterus is provided by spinal afferent nerves, whose cell bodies lie predominantly in thoracolumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG). While the origin of the cell bodies of uterine spinal afferents is clear, the identity of their sensory endings has remained unknown. Hence, our major aim was to identify the location, morphology, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity of uterine spinal afferent endings supplied by thoracolumbar DRG. We also sought to determine the degree of uterine afferent innervation provided by the vagus nerve. Using an anterograde tracing technique, nulliparous female C57BL/6 mice were injected unilaterally with biotinylated dextran into thoracolumbar DRG (T13-L3). After 7–9 days, uterine horns were stained to visualize traced nerve axons and endings immunoreactive to CGRP. Whole uteri from a separate cohort of animals were injected with retrograde neuronal tracer (DiI) and dye uptake in nodose ganglia was examined. Anterogradely labeled axons innervated each uterine horn, these projected rostrally or caudally from their site of entry, branching to form varicose endings in the myometrium and/or vascular plexus. Most spinal afferent endings were CGRP-immunoreactive and morphologically classified as "simple-type." Rarely, uterine nerve cell bodies were labeled in nodose ganglia. Here, we provide the first detailed description of spinal afferent nerve endings in the uterus of a vertebrate. Distinct morphological types of spinal afferent nerve endings were identified throughout multiple anatomical layers of the uterine wall. Compared to other visceral organs, uterine spinal afferent endings displayed noticeably less morphological diversity. Few neurons in nodose ganglia innervate the uterus.
AB - Major sensory innervation to the uterus is provided by spinal afferent nerves, whose cell bodies lie predominantly in thoracolumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRG). While the origin of the cell bodies of uterine spinal afferents is clear, the identity of their sensory endings has remained unknown. Hence, our major aim was to identify the location, morphology, and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-immunoreactivity of uterine spinal afferent endings supplied by thoracolumbar DRG. We also sought to determine the degree of uterine afferent innervation provided by the vagus nerve. Using an anterograde tracing technique, nulliparous female C57BL/6 mice were injected unilaterally with biotinylated dextran into thoracolumbar DRG (T13-L3). After 7–9 days, uterine horns were stained to visualize traced nerve axons and endings immunoreactive to CGRP. Whole uteri from a separate cohort of animals were injected with retrograde neuronal tracer (DiI) and dye uptake in nodose ganglia was examined. Anterogradely labeled axons innervated each uterine horn, these projected rostrally or caudally from their site of entry, branching to form varicose endings in the myometrium and/or vascular plexus. Most spinal afferent endings were CGRP-immunoreactive and morphologically classified as "simple-type." Rarely, uterine nerve cell bodies were labeled in nodose ganglia. Here, we provide the first detailed description of spinal afferent nerve endings in the uterus of a vertebrate. Distinct morphological types of spinal afferent nerve endings were identified throughout multiple anatomical layers of the uterine wall. Compared to other visceral organs, uterine spinal afferent endings displayed noticeably less morphological diversity. Few neurons in nodose ganglia innervate the uterus.
KW - calcitonin gene-related peptide
KW - dorsal root ganglia
KW - nodose ganglia
KW - spinal nerve
KW - uterus
KW - vagus nerve
KW - visceral pain
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/NHMRC/1156416
UR - http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP190103628
U2 - 10.1002/cne.25070
DO - 10.1002/cne.25070
JO - Journal of Comparative Neurology
JF - Journal of Comparative Neurology
Dodds KN, Kyloh MA, Travis L, Beckett EAH, Spencer NJ. Morphological identification of thoracolumbar spinal afferent nerve endings in mouse uterus. Journal of Comparative Neurology. 2020 Nov 15. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.25070