Neuropeptide Y innervation in the vaginal mucosa among patients with pelvic organ prolapse

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the innervation of neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the anterior vaginal mucosa of menopausal patients suffering from pelvic organ prolapse (POP). To do this, we analyzed the distribution and expression of NPY and its correlation with the occurrence and development of POP. Changes in NPY abundance in the anterior vaginal mucosa were assessed by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples collected from 41 POP patients and 9 control subjects. We divided patients into 4 populations, designated POP IV-POP I, exhibiting decreasing levels of NPY innervation. Through multivariate regression analysis, the level of reduction in NPY innervation was shown to be associated with an increasing severity of POP disease in a statistically significant manner. In conclusion, our data reveal that as the symptoms of POP intensify, the expression of NPY in anterior vaginal mucosa decreases progressively. Menopause, in combination with stress urinary incontinence (SUI), results in a stronger effect on both nerve damage to the pelvic floor and NPY alteration, compared to other risk factors, such as parity and weight.