Biomaterial Database

Morphological modifications in clitoris and vagina in spontaneously hypertensive rats. 2003

A J Bechara, and G Cao, and A R Casabé, and S V Romano, and J E Toblli

Sexual Dysfunction Section, Urology Division, Hospital Durand, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

We evaluated possible morphological alteration in clitoris and vagina from spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive WKY rats. Clitoris and vagina were processed by Masson's trichrome, anti-alpha-smooth-muscle actin, anticollagen type I (COL I) and type III (COL III), and anti-TGFbeta(1). SHR presented higher amount of clitoral cavernous smooth muscle (CSM), vascular smooth muscle; TGFbeta(1) in clitoral vessel wall; higher wall/lumen ratio in both vaginal and clitoral vessels; and remarkable interstitial fibrosis, expressed by a higher amount in interstitial COL I and III in both clitoris and vagina, compared to WKY rats. Nerve fibers from clitoral and vaginal tissue in SHR showed important fibrosis at perineurium. SHR showed positive correlation between systolic blood pressure (SBP) and clitoral CSM; SBP and fibrosis in clitoris; and SBP and COL I and III in clitoris, respectively. Similar findings were observed between SBP and COL I and III in vagina. In conclusion, SHR present morphologic changes in clitoral vessels as well as in clitoral cavernous space, which have a high positive correlation with the high blood pressure level. Moreover, the increase in extracellular matrix affects not only the clitoral and vaginal interstitium but also the nerve structures from both clitoris and vagina.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D006973	Hypertension	Persistently high systemic arterial BLOOD PRESSURE. Based on multiple readings (BLOOD PRESSURE DETERMINATION), hypertension is currently defined as when SYSTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently greater than 140 mm Hg or when DIASTOLIC PRESSURE is consistently 90 mm Hg or more.	Blood Pressure, High,Blood Pressures, High,High Blood Pressure,High Blood Pressures
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009131	Muscle, Smooth, Vascular	The nonstriated involuntary muscle tissue of blood vessels.	Vascular Smooth Muscle,Muscle, Vascular Smooth,Muscles, Vascular Smooth,Smooth Muscle, Vascular,Smooth Muscles, Vascular,Vascular Smooth Muscles
D009412	Nerve Fibers	Slender processes of NEURONS, including the AXONS and their glial envelopes (MYELIN SHEATH). Nerve fibers conduct nerve impulses to and from the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.	Cerebellar Mossy Fibers,Mossy Fibers, Cerebellar,Cerebellar Mossy Fiber,Mossy Fiber, Cerebellar,Nerve Fiber
D010525	Peripheral Nerves	The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium.	Endoneurium,Epineurium,Perineurium,Endoneuriums,Epineuriums,Nerve, Peripheral,Nerves, Peripheral,Perineuriums,Peripheral Nerve
D011918	Rats, Inbred SHR	A strain of Rattus norvegicus with elevated blood pressure used as a model for studying hypertension and stroke.	Rats, Spontaneously Hypertensive,Rats, SHR,Inbred SHR Rat,Inbred SHR Rats,Rat, Inbred SHR,Rat, SHR,Rat, Spontaneously Hypertensive,SHR Rat,SHR Rat, Inbred,SHR Rats,SHR Rats, Inbred,Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat,Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
D011921	Rats, Inbred WKY	A strain of Rattus norvegicus used as a normotensive control for the spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR).	Rats, Wistar Kyoto,Wistar Kyoto Rat,Rats, WKY,Inbred WKY Rat,Inbred WKY Rats,Kyoto Rat, Wistar,Rat, Inbred WKY,Rat, WKY,Rat, Wistar Kyoto,WKY Rat,WKY Rat, Inbred,WKY Rats,WKY Rats, Inbred,Wistar Kyoto Rats
D001794	Blood Pressure	PRESSURE of the BLOOD on the ARTERIES and other BLOOD VESSELS.	Systolic Pressure,Diastolic Pressure,Pulse Pressure,Pressure, Blood,Pressure, Diastolic,Pressure, Pulse,Pressure, Systolic,Pressures, Systolic
D001808	Blood Vessels	Any of the tubular vessels conveying the blood (arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins).	Blood Vessel,Vessel, Blood,Vessels, Blood
D002987	Clitoris	An erectile structure homologous with the penis, situated beneath the anterior labial commissure, partially hidden between the anterior ends of the labia minora.