Anat Cell Biol.  2015 Jun;48(2):114-123. 10.5115/acb.2015.48.2.114.

Composite nerve fibers in the hypogastric and pelvic splanchnic nerves: an immunohistochemical study using elderly cadavers

• Jang HS
• Cho KH
• Hieda K
• Kim JH
• Murakami G
• Abe SI
• Matsubara

• KMID: 1845279
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.2015.48.2.114

Abstract

To determine the proportion of nerve fibers in the hypogastric nerve (HGN) and pelvic splanchnic nerve (PSN), small tissue strips of the HGN and PSN from 12 donated elderly cadavers were examined histologically. Immunohistochemistry for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was performed. More than 70% of fibers per bundle in the HGN were positive for TH at the level of the sacral promontory. In addition, NOS- (negative) and/or VIP+ (positive) fibers were observed in small areas of each nerve bundle, although the proportion of each was usually less than 10%. In the PSN near the third sacral nerve root, the proportion of nerve fibers positive for NOS and/or VIP (or TH) was below 30%. In both the HGN and PSN, the number of VIP+ fibers was usually greater than that of NOS+ fibers, with frequent co-localization of NOS and VIP. More fibers in both nerves were positive for TH than for these other markers. In contrast to pelvic plexus branches, there were no differences in the proportions of NOS+ and VIP+ fibers between nerve bundles in each of the tissue strips. Thus, target-dependent sorting of nerve fibers was not apparent in the HGN at the level of the sacral promontory or in the PSN near the third sacral nerve root. The NOS+ and/or VIP+ fibers in the HGN were most likely ascending postganglionic fibers to the colon, while those in the PSN root may be preganglionic fibers from Onuf's nucleus.

Keyword

Hypogastric nerve; Pelvic splanchnic nerve; Nitric oxide synthase; Vasoactive intestinal peptide; Tyrosine hydroxylase

MeSH Terms

Aged*
Cadaver*
Colon
Humans
Hypogastric Plexus
Immunohistochemistry
Nerve Fibers*
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
Splanchnic Nerves*
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I
Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Tissue sampling to prepare histological sections of the pelvic splanchnic nerve (PSN) from the left hemipelvis of a 78-year-old woman. (A) Picture of the body immediately after bisection of the pelvis. The hypogastric nerve (HGN) was sampled in front of the sacral promontory, and the body was cut transversely along the fifth lumbar vertebra. (B) Dissection of the sacral nerve roots (S1, S2, S3) during lateral traction of the pelvic viscera. The body of the uterus (UT) had been removed between steps shown in panels (A) and (B). The material analyzed, which included the third sacral root of the PSN, was obtained from the area indicated by the square in panel (B). (C-E) Positive controls for the present immunohistochemical assays: serial cross sections of the descending colon of the same specimen for the hypogastric and splanchnic nerves were incubated with antibodies against neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (C), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (D), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (E). In contrast to the very restricted expression of TH (arrow in panel E), NOS and VIP were strongly and widely positive in the myenteric plexus (stars in panels C and D). (F, G) Masson trichrome staining of tissue strips containing the HGN (F) and PSN (G). Panels (C-E) are shown at the same magnification as are panel (F) and (G). Scale bars=0.5 mm (C), 10 mm (G). BL, bladder; EL, external longitudinal muscle layer of the colon; IC, internal circular muscle layer of the colon; P, pubis; R, rectum; SSL, sacrospinous ligament; VAG, vagina.

• 

  Fig. 2 Nerve bundles comprising the hypogastric nerve in a 78-year-old man. Serial cross-sections of middle-sized bundles (A-C) and a thick bundle (D-F) were incubated with antibodies to neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (A, D), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (B, E), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (C, F). The numbers of NOS- and VIP+ fibers were greater in panels (A) and (B) than in panels (D) and (E). In both types of nerve bundles, NOS+ or VIP+ fibers were restricted to small areas and overlapped. TH+ fibers were distributed throughout the nerve bundles. All panels were prepared at the same magnification. Scale bar=0.1 mm (A).

• 

  Fig. 3 Hypogastric nerve containing abundant fibers positive for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in a 93-year-old man. Serial cross-sections of a middle-sized bundle (A-C) and a thin bundle (D-F) were incubated with antibodies against NOS (A, D), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (B, E), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (C, F). The distributions of NOS- and VIP+ fibers appeared to overlap, whereas TH+ fibers were distributed throughout the nerve bundles. The hypogastric nerve in this cadaver contained the largest numbers of fibers positive for NOS and VIP of the 12 cadavers examined. All panels were prepared at the same magnification. Scale bar=0.1 mm (A).

• 

  Fig. 4 Hypogastric nerve containing ganglion cells in an 85-year-old woman. Serial sections of two middle-sized bundles, represented by panels (A-C) and panels (D-F), respectively, were incubated with antibodies against neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (A, D), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (B, E), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (C, F). The expression of NOS and VIP overlapped in some ganglion cells (A, B), whereas TH+ fibers were distributed throughout the nerve bundles. One ganglion cell (arrow in panels E and F) was apparently positive for both TH and VIP. All panels were prepared at the same magnification. Scale bar=0.1 mm (A).

• 

  Fig. 5 Nerve bundles constituting the pelvic splanchnic nerve in a 78-year-old man. These were the same specimens as those shown in Fig. 2. Serial cross sections of two middle-sized bundles, represented by panels (A-C) and panels (D-F), respectively, were incubated with antibodies against neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (A, D), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) (B, E), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) (C, F). In panels (A) and (B), the distributions of NOS+ and VIP+ fibers overlapped and differed from the distribution of TH+ fibers. The numbers of NOS- and VIP+ fibers were greater in panels (A) and (B) than in panels (D) and (E). The density of TH+ fibers (C, F) was much lower than in the hypogastric nerve (Fig. 2C, F). All panels were prepared at the same magnification. Scale bar=0.1 mm (A).

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