Biomaterial Database

Immunohistochemical study of neuropeptide Y-containing nerve fibers in the human clitoris and penis. 1990

D Cocchia, and M Rende, and A Toesca, and R Viola, and V M Stolfi

Department of Public Health, II University of Rome, Italy.

The occurrence and distribution of neuropeptide Y in the human clitoris and penis was investigated by light immunohistochemistry. Neuropeptide Y-containing nerve fibers were detected in the tunicae of arteries and veins as well as among trabecular smooth muscle. The distribution pattern of the peptide was similar in both organs although a higher density of immunoreactive nerve fibers was detected in the penis. The immunolocalization of neuropeptide Y was also compared with that of neuron-specific enolase, a neuronal marker which labels the entire nerve network. It is suggested that neuropeptide Y is involved in the physiology of the penis and the clitoris, affecting vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle activity.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
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
D009419	Nerve Tissue Proteins		Proteins, Nerve Tissue,Tissue Proteins, Nerve
D009478	Neuropeptide Y	A 36-amino acid peptide present in many organs and in many sympathetic noradrenergic neurons. It has vasoconstrictor and natriuretic activity and regulates local blood flow, glandular secretion, and smooth muscle activity. The peptide also stimulates feeding and drinking behavior and influences secretion of pituitary hormones.	Neuropeptide Y-Like Immunoreactive Peptide,Neuropeptide Tyrosine,Neuropeptide Y Like Immunoreactive Peptide,Tyrosine, Neuropeptide
D010413	Penis	The external reproductive organ of males. It is composed of a mass of erectile tissue enclosed in three cylindrical fibrous compartments. Two of the three compartments, the corpus cavernosa, are placed side-by-side along the upper part of the organ. The third compartment below, the corpus spongiosum, houses the urethra.	Glans Penis,Penis, Glans
D010751	Phosphopyruvate Hydratase	A hydro-lyase that catalyzes the dehydration of 2-phosphoglycerate to form PHOSPHOENOLPYRUVATE. Several different isoforms of this enzyme exist, each with its own tissue specificity.	Enolase,Neuron-Specific Enolase,2-Phospho-D-Glycerate Hydro-Lyase,2-Phospho-D-Glycerate Hydrolase,2-Phosphoglycerate Dehydratase,Enolase 2,Enolase 3,Muscle-Specific Enolase,Nervous System-Specific Enolase,Non-Neuronal Enolase,alpha-Enolase,beta-Enolase,gamma-Enolase,2 Phospho D Glycerate Hydro Lyase,2 Phospho D Glycerate Hydrolase,2 Phosphoglycerate Dehydratase,Dehydratase, 2-Phosphoglycerate,Enolase, Muscle-Specific,Enolase, Nervous System-Specific,Enolase, Neuron-Specific,Enolase, Non-Neuronal,Hydratase, Phosphopyruvate,Hydro-Lyase, 2-Phospho-D-Glycerate,Muscle Specific Enolase,Nervous System Specific Enolase,Neuron Specific Enolase,Non Neuronal Enolase,System-Specific Enolase, Nervous,alpha Enolase,beta Enolase,gamma Enolase
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.
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man