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Published on: September 26, 2020
Vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP)-immunoreactive nerves in the boar penis
A M Dalin1, H Rodriguez-Martinez
1Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
Vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP) nerves are crucial for boar penile erection. A study found VIP nerve depletion in impotent boars, suggesting VIP
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Urology
- Neuroendocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Penile erection is a complex physiological process involving neural and vascular components.
- Vasointestinal polypeptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide implicated in smooth muscle relaxation and vasodilation.
- The role of VIP in porcine penile innervation and erectile function requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the localization and distribution of VIP-immunoreactivity in the porcine penis.
- To compare VIP innervation patterns in normal boars versus a boar diagnosed with impotence.
- To assess the potential involvement of VIP in the mechanisms of penile erection in boars.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemistry (peroxidase-anti-peroxidase technique) at the light microscopy (LM) level.
- Immunogold electron microscopy (EM) for ultrastructural localization of VIP.
- Examination of penile tissue samples from normal and impotent Hampshire boars.
Main Results:
- VIP-immunoreactivity was observed in nerves associated with blood vessels and smooth muscle in normal boars.
- VIP was localized to nerve terminals in the lamina propria, fibromuscular layers, and beneath the epithelium.
- The impotent boar exhibited marked depletion of VIP-immunoreactivity and degenerative changes in adrenergic/cholinergic nerves.
Conclusions:
- The porcine penis possesses significant VIP-containing nerve innervation alongside adrenergic and cholinergic components.
- The observed VIP nerve depletion in the impotent boar suggests a critical role for VIP in erectile function.
- VIP-containing nerves are implicated in the physiological mechanisms underlying penile erection in boars.
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Penis
Anatomy of the Penis
The glans penis, or the head, is the terminal part of the penis and houses the external urethral orifice, the exit point for urine and semen. Covered by the prepuce, or foreskin, the glans is noted for its sensitivity and plays a key role in sexual pleasure. The body of the...
