title: Frusemide potentiates acetylcholine and carbachol in contracting the rat urinary bladder.
abstract: The interaction between acetylcholine and carbachol, and frusemide, a loop diuretic, have been studied on the rat isolated urinary bladder strip preparation. Acetylcholine (4.36 x 10(-8) - 1.3 x 10(-6) M) and carbachol (5.5 x 10(-8) - 6.9 x 10(-6) M) induced contractions and these were significantly potentiated by frusemide (3.02 x 10(-6) M). The ratio of EC50 in the absence of frusemide to EC50 in the presence of frusemide was 1.58 +/- 0.03 (s.e.m.) for acetylcholine and 1.86 +/- 0.14 for carbachol. Potentiation of acetylcholine and carbachol contractions by frusemide was not observed in tissues treated with hexamethonium (2.5 x 10(-5) M). Rhythmic contractions induced by frusemide alone were markedly reduced by hexamethonium (2.5 x 10(-5) M) and tetrodotoxin (10(-6) M) but they were not significantly reduced by atropine (1.7 x 10(-6) M). The result suggests that frusemide increases the sensitivity of the bladder to acetylcholine and carbachol, and that it may have a nicotinic stimulant effect on the bladder. This extra-renal action may contribute to its prompt diuretic property.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Okpukpara
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Akah
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002217:Carbachol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D005665:Furosemide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005665:Furosemide; D002217:Carbachol; D000109:Acetylcholine