Vol 49, No 2 (2011)
Original paper
Published online: 2011-07-11
Human umbilical cord expresses several vasoactive peptides involved in the local regulation of vascular tone: protein and gene expression of Orphanin, Oxytocin, ANP, eNOS and iNOS
DOI: 10.5603/FHC.2011.0029
Folia Histochem Cytobiol 2011;49(2):211-218.
Abstract
Full-term human umbilical cord contains three blood vessels: two arteries coiled around a vein and
surrounded by Wharton’s jelly, a mucous tissue with few mesenchymal stromal cells and abundant extracellular
matrix. Umbilical vessels lack innervations, thus endothelial cells must play a role in the control of blood flow.
The aim of this study was to investigate in human umbilical cord the expression of five peptides that could be
involved in the regulation of vascular tone: Orphanin FQ, Oxytocin, Atrial Natriuretic Peptide (ANP), endothelial
Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) and inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (iNOS). The expression of these molecules
in full-term human umbilical cord was investigated through immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Immunoreactivity
for Orphanin FQ was detected in Wharton’s jelly, vessel musculature and endothelium; Oxytocin,
ANP and eNOS were expressed by the umbilical epithelium, Wharton’s jelly and endothelium, whereas iNOS
only by endothelial cells. RT-PCR analysis showed transcriptional expression of Oxytocin, ANP and eNOS
mRNAs. The presence of Orphanin, Oxytocin, ANP, eNOS and iNOS proteins was identified in the human
umbilical cord. mRNA expression for Oxytocin, ANP and eNOS suggest that these molecules are synthesized by
umbilical cord cells themselves. The expression of these vasoactive molecules could be part of a general mechanism
locally regulating vascular tone. (Folia Histochemica et Cytobiologica 2011; Vol. 49, No. 2, pp. 211–218)
Keywords: human umbilical cordOrphaninOxytocinANPeNOSiNOS
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