The Effect of Expressions of Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate Diaphorase in the Anterior Vaginal Wall on Female Urinary Incontinence and Sexual Function / 대한비뇨기과학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We performed immunohistochemical analysis of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase in the anterior vaginal wall, and we investigated their relations to the females sexual life and their stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From December 2002 to April 2003, 55 urinary incontinent women, who were treated with tension-free vaginal tape (TVT), participated in this study. Their average age was 52.3 years old. We evaluated their sexual function with the Korean version of female sexual function index (FSFI). Anterior vaginal wall tissues 1x1cm in size were obtained during the TVT operation, and they were analyzed by immunohistochemical technique for VIP and NADPH diaphorase. We counted the number of nerve fibers containing VIP or NADPH diaphorase in the microscopic field of view. We verified the results with a Student's t-test and spearman test to identify the relations immunohistochemical results to the females sexual function and urinary incontinence. RESULTS: Expression of VIP was significantly low in grade III incontinence, but there was not a significant difference for the other parameters of incontinence. Expression of NADPH diaphorase had no significant relation with any factor of incontinence. For the relation between expression of VIP and NADPH diaphorase and the FSFI score, the domain of arousal shows a significant difference with the expression of VIP and NADPH diaphorase, according to FSFI score. CONCLUSIONS: From the above results, we suggest that VIP and NADPH diaphorase may affect the structure and functions of the female pelvic floor and these neurotransmitters act on the arousal phase of female sexual function.