title: Agonists at presynaptic receptors on sympathetic nerves differentially affect two phases of the contractile response in the rat vas deferens.
abstract: A series of adrenoceptor agonists were investigated for their prejunctional effects on field stimulated rat vas deferens. Tissues were stimulated in 10 s trains of impulses, frequency 10 Hz, every 100 s. This produced a biphasic response comprising an initial twitch followed by a prolonged, plateau phase of contraction. The order of potency for a series of alpha 2-agonists against the twitch phase of contraction was UK14304 greater than clonidine greater than noradrenaline = alpha-methyl noradrenaline greater than B-HT920. The same order of potency was observed against the plateau phase, but approximately 10 fold higher concentrations of agonist were needed. Surprisingly, B-HT920 was inactive against the plateau phase of contraction. Characteristic differences in the slopes and maximum responses of the dose-response curves to the imidazolines (UK14304 and clonidine) and the beta-phenethylamines (noradrenaline and alpha-methyl noradrenaline) were seen against both phases of contraction. It is concluded that the two phases of contraction are influenced by activation of two distinct heterogeneous populations of prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors.
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, Liverpool Polytechnic.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Mottram
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014649:Vas Deferens / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter