Post-tetanic contractile events further support the interaction of multiple neurotransmitters in the neuroeffector junction of the rat vas deferens.
Post-tetanic events were recorded in isolated, superfused, epididymal and prostatic halves of the rat vas deferens. Increasing the frequency of nerve stimulation from 0.15 to 15 Hz (1-30 s) and then back to 0.15 Hz produced a post-tetanic potentiation (PTP) of the muscular responses in the epididymal end but a post-tetanic inhibitory response (PTI) in the prostatic half. Both effects were abolished by tetrodotoxin or animal pretreatment with 6-hydroxy dopamine (6-OHDA). PTP was markedly reduced by reserpine treatment or tissue incubation with prazosin. PTI was not altered by adrenergic drugs but partially reduced by tissue application of bicuculline or strychnine, revealing that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may modulate the motor transmission towards the prostatic half of the rat ductus.
D000818:Animals; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000502:physiology; D004723:Endorphins / Q000502:physiology; D005998:Glycine / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000294:innervation*; D009451:Neuroeffector Junction / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D009435:Synaptic Transmission; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000294:innervation*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology
D002395:Catecholamines; D004723:Endorphins; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005998:Glycine