ADRENERGIC AND PEPTIDERGIC INNERVATION OF THE OVIDUCT OF SCELOPORUS-JARROVI DURING THE REPRODUCTIVE-CYCLE

The innervation of the oviduct of the viviparous Lizard Sceloporus jar rovi was examined in relation to reproductive stage. An indirect immun ofluorescence technique was used to determine the presence of adrenerg ic nerves using an antibody to tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme in cate cholamine synthesis pathway, and nerves containing vasoactive intestin al polypeptide- and substance P-like substances. Tyrosine hydroxylase- immunoreactive and substance P-immunoreactive fibers were present in t he tube and uterus without regional variation. Vasoactive intestinal p olypeptide-immunoreactive fibers were only present within the uterus, and were less dense than the tyrosine hydroxylase- and substance P-imm unoreactive fibers. Tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive nerve density was low during vitellogenesis, but tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive fibers were abundant throughout pregnancy and in postpartum animals. Furthermore, substance P- and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide-immuno reactive fibers did not vary with reproductive state. The absence of a parturition-associated reduction in uterine innervation suggests that autonomic innervation is not involved in maintaining myometrial quies cence in S. jarrovi, or that the contraction inhibiting effects of the autonomic innervation are overridden with the nerves still present, r ather than depletion or degeneration of axons. These data provide addi tional evidence that the autonomic nervous system is important in regu lation of the reptilian oviduct. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.