The distribution of neuropeptide Y, substance P, vasoactive intestinal
polypeptide, Leu(5)-enkephalin, bombesin/gastrin-releasing peptide, c
alcitonin gene-related peptide, somatostatin, cholecystokinin and cate
cholamine synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and dopamine-beta
-hydroxylase was studied immunohistochemically in nerve fibres supplyi
ng the bovine vagina and uterus. The nerves containing tyrosine hydrox
ylase or dopamine-beta-hydroxylase and neuropeptide Y-immunoreactivity
were particularly numerous in both organs. Substance P, vasoactive in
testinal polypeptide and Leu(5)-enkephalin-containing nerves were less
numerous whereas somatostatin and calcitonin gene-related peptide-imm
unoreactive nerves occurred occasionally. Bombesin/gastrin-releasing p
eptide and cholecystokinin immunoreactivities were not present in nerv
ous fibers of the bovine uterus and vagina. Generally, the immunoreact
ive nerve terminals, fibers, networks or nerve bundles were present be
low the serous membrane, between smooth muscle cells of muscular layer
s, around blood vessels, in the submucosal layer and below the luminal
epithelium of the uterus and cervix.