Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Research
  • Published:

Morphological modifications in clitoris and vagina in spontaneously hypertensive rats

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 15, pages 166–172 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

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-α-smooth-muscle actin, anticollagen type I (COL I) and type III (COL III), and anti-TGFβ1. SHR presented higher amount of clitoral cavernous smooth muscle (CSM), vascular smooth muscle; TGFβ1 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.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
Figure 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Laumann EO, Paik A, Rosen RC . Sexual dysfunction in the United States: prevalence and predictors. JAMA 1999; 281: 537–544.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Min K et al. Experimental models for the investigation of female sexual function and dysfunction. Int J Impot Res 2001; 13: 151–156.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Zavara P et al. Nitric oxide mediated erectile activity is a testosterone dependent event: a rat erection model. Int J Impot Res 1995; 7: 209–219.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Goldstein I . Female sexual arousal disorders new insights. Int J Impot Res 2000; 12(Suppl 4): S152–S157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Burnett A et al. Immunohistochemical description of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in human clitoris. J Urol 1997; 158: 75–78.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Berman J, Mc Carthy M, Kyprianou N . Effect of estrogen withdrawal on nitric oxide synthase expression and apoptosis in the rat vagina. Urology 1998; 51: 650–698.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yoon HN et al. Effects of estrogen on nitric oxide synthase and vagina. Int J Impot Res 2001; 13: 205–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Park K et al. Vasculogenic female sexual dysfunction: the hemodynamic basis for vaginal engorgement insufficiency and clitoris erectile insufficiency. Int J Impot Res 1997; 9: 27–37.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Duncan LE et al. Sex, drugs, and hypertension: a methodological approach for studying a sensitive subject. Int J Impot Res 2001; 13: 31–40.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Toblli JE et al. Morphological changes in cavernous tissue in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Am J Hypertens 2000; 13: 686–692.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hsu SM, Raine L, Fanger H . Use of avidin–biotin–peroxidase complex (ABC) immunoperoxidase techniques: a comparison between ABC an unlabeled antibody (PAP) procedures. J Histochem Cytochem 1981; 29: 577–580.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Giuliano F, Allard J . The experimental physiology of the genital female response [Abstract]. Int J Impot Res 2001; 13(Supp 4): S4.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Berman J, Shuker GI . Female sexual dysfunction. In: Carson C, Kirby R, Goldstein I (eds). Textbook of Erectile Dysfunction. Isis Medical Media Ltd.: Oxford, UK, 1999, pp 627–637.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Davies MJ . Hypertension and atherosclerotic (ischemic) heart disease. J Hum Hypertens 1991; 5(Suppl 1): 23–29.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Hsueh WA, Anderson PW . Hypertension, the endothelial cell and the vascular complications of diabetes mellitus. Hypertension 1992; 20: 253–263.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Chobanian AV . 1989 Corcoran lecture: adaptative and maladaptative responses of the arterial wall to hypertension. Hypertension 1990; 15: 666–674.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Derhaschnig U et al. Increased levels of transforming growth factor-beta1 in essential hypertension. Am J Hypertens 2002; 15: 207–211.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Xu C et al. Molecular mechanisms of aortic wall remodeling in response to hypertension. J Vasc Surg 2001; 33: 570–578.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Joki N et al. Tyrosine-kinase dependent TGF-beta and extracellular matrix expression by mechanical stretch in vascular smooth muscle cells. Hypertens Res 2000; 23: 91–99.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Siegert A, Ritz E, Orth S, Wagner J . Differential regulation of transforming growth factor receptors by angiotensin II and transforming growth factor-beta1 in vascular smooth muscle. J Mol Med 1999; 77: 437–445.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Schurch W, Seemayer TA, Gabbiani G . Myofibroblast. In: Stephen S, Sternberg (eds). Histology for Pathologist, 2nd edn. Lippincott-Raven Publishers: Philadelphia, 1997, pp 129–165.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the valuable contribution of Ana Uceda and Mariana Feldman who helped in the preparation of laboratory experiments and Jaquelina Mastantuono who thoroughly reviewed the style of this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

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

    A J Bechara, A R Casabé & S V Romano

  2. Laboratory of Experimental Medicine, Hospital Alemán, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    G Cao & J E Toblli

Authors
  1. A J Bechara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A R Casabé
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. S V Romano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. J E Toblli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to J E Toblli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bechara, A., Cao, G., Casabé, A. et al. Morphological modifications in clitoris and vagina in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Int J Impot Res 15, 166–172 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900982

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijir.3900982

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links