Expression of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptors in human uterus

We show the existence of functional vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) rec eptors in normal human female genital tract (endometrium, myometrium, ovary and Fallopian tube) as well as in leiomyoma (a frequent uterine pathology) . The correlation between VIP binding and stimulation of adenylyl cyclase a ctivity for all studied tissues was linear (r = 0.86) suggesting the expres sion of VIP receptors throughout the human female genital tract. Immunodete ction of VIP receptor subtypes gave different molecular weights for VPAC(1) (47 kDa primarily) and VPAC(2) (65 kDa), which may be due to different gly cosylation extents. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the expression o f both subtypes of VIP receptors and their functionality in human female ge nital tract, suggesting that this neuropeptide could play an important phys iological and pathophysiological role at this level. (C) 2000 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.