Expression Levels of Nerve Growth Factor and Its Receptors in Anterior Vaginal Wall in Postmenopausal Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

Abstract

To investigate the expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its receptors TrkA and p75NTR in the anterior vaginal wall of postmenopausal patients with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). The tissues of anterior vaginal wall of the patients (n = 31) with POP and patients (n = 16) with nonpelvic floor dysfunction were collected during the operation. The expressions of NGF, TrkA, and p75NTR were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expression levels of mRNA and protein of NGF and its receptors in vaginal anterior wall tissues of postmenopausal POP patients were significantly decrease compared with those of the control group. The ratio of p75NTR/TrkA expression in POP patients was significantly increase compared with that in the control group and was proportional to the degree of prolapse. The decreased expression of NGF and its receptors p75NTR and TrkA in vaginal anterior wall tissue of postmenopausal POP patients and the change of the ratio of 2 receptors may be related to the occurrence and development of POP.