An interdisciplinary approach to identifying the sensory neuropeptide(s) that trigger vaginocervical stimulation-induced lordosis and analgesia.
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Rivera, Jessica A..
An interdisciplinary approach to identifying the sensory neuropeptide(s) that trigger vaginocervical stimulation-induced lordosis and analgesia. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-d733-vp75Export
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TitleAn interdisciplinary approach to identifying the sensory neuropeptide(s) that trigger vaginocervical stimulation-induced lordosis and analgesia.
Date Created2021
Other Date2021-10 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (vii, 68 pages) : illustrations
DescriptionCurrent pharmacotherapeutic options focus their site of pain modulation in the brain, and are often highly invasive and of low efficacy. This novel interdisciplinary research approach focused on gathering preliminary data to support an alternative approach to treating genital pain and sexual response by modulating sensory neurotransmitter activity in the periphery (i.e., at the first synapse in the sacral spinal cord). To this eventual end, the first step and the primary goal of this dissertation was to collect evidence that identifies the role(s) of one or more sensory neurotransmitters in the pelvic nerve, a nerve that heavily innervates genital areas.
Our novel research approach utilized a rat model of lordosis (i.e., female mating posture, an index of sexual responsivity) to identify the sensory neurotransmitters located in the pelvic nerve. Our group hypothesized that the biological properties of sensory neuropeptides likely mediate lordosis and analgesia. To test their relevance, candidate neuropeptides (i.e., VIP, NPY, GAL, SOM, ENK, OT, SP, CCK, and CGRP) were put through corollary studies intended to gather converging evidence of sensory neuropeptide facilitation of lordosis, and/or mediation of analgesia. In experiment 1, our exhaustion paradigm was tested and supported. In experiment 2, candidate neuropeptide synthesis activity indicated changes in synthesis for GAL and VIP in response to lordosis-exhaustion, implicating these neuropeptides in lordosis.
In experiment 3, candidate neuropeptide levels were analyzed using a unique quantitative approach to immunohistochemistry (IHC). Of the 9 candidates considered, only VIP and GAL IHC levels were significantly influenced by the analgesia-exhaustion condition, and NPY by lordosis-exhaustion. In experiment 4, there was no evidence of NPY facilitation of lordosis, yet there was evidence to support VIP and NPY mediation of VCS-induced analgesia. To corroborate these analgesic findings, respective receptor blockers were injected intrathecally, and only VIP receptor blocker significantly attenuated VCS- induced analgesia, but did not attenuate VCS-facilitated lordosis.
The goal of this dissertation research was to identify sensory neuropeptides involved in the facilitation of lordosis, and/or mediation, of analgesia in response to VCS. Evidence was collected for VIP and NPY to support mediation of VCS-induced analgesia, and corroborating evidence was only obtained in the subsequent receptor blocker experiment for VIP.
NotePsy.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses
LanguageEnglish
CollectionGraduate School - Newark Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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