An inhibitory effect of atropine on responses of the vas deferens of the mouse to field stimulation.
1 Atropine is shown to impair responses of the vas deferens of the mouse to field stimulation by acting at a site proximal to the smooth muscle cells. 2 The inhibitory effect of atropine is prevented by desmethylimipramine and reversed by dexamphetamine, and appears similar to the adrenergic-neurone blockade of guanethidine. 3 Electronmicroscopical studies show the presence in vas of presumptive noradrenergic axons which have acetylcholinesterase reaction product associated with their axolemmae. 4 These results are discussed in relation to the controversial hypothesis of a 'cholinergic link' in noradrenergic transmission.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001285:Atropine; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D000109:Acetylcholine; D009638:Norepinephrine; D006145:Guanethidine