title: The effects of clonidine on electrically-induced contractions of rat detrusor strips in vitro.
abstract: Clonidine (10(-9)-3 X 10(-6) M) produced a concentration dependent inhibition of field stimulation-induced contractions of rat detrusor muscle strip at 0.1 and 1 Hz which were completely abolished by tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-7) M) but were unaffected by hexamethonium (10(-5) M). Pretreatment with yohimbine (10(-8)-10(-7) M) did not modify the amplitude of contractions but produced a rightward parallel shift of clonidine's cumulative response curve without a depression of the maximal response. The corresponding pA2 value for yohimbine was 8.44 +/- 0.1. Atropine (3 X 10(-6) M) produced a partial inhibition of contractions at both frequencies. In the presence of atropine the cumulative response curve of clonidine was significantly reduced at 1 but not at 0.1 Hz. Indomethacin (5 X 10(-5) M) and theophylline (2 X 10(-4) M) produced a partial inhibition of amplitude of contractions at both frequencies without any interference with the effect of a supramaximal concentration of clonidine. Prazosin (10(-6) M), propranolol (10(-6) M), chlorpheniramine (10(-6) M), ranitidine (10(-6) M), haloperidol (10(-7) M), pizotifen (10(-6) M), naloxone (10(-6) M), quinidine (10(-6) M), strychnine (10(-5) M) or picrotoxin (10(-5) M) neither affected the amplitude of contractions at either frequency nor antagonized clonidine effects. The contractile response of non stimulated strips to acetylcholine (10(-5) M), carbachol (3 X 10(-6) M) and ATP (10(-3) M) were not significantly influenced by pretreatment with clonidine (3 X 10(-6) M). These results suggest that stimulation of prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoreceptors located on postganglionic nerve endings might reduce the output of excitatory neurotransmitter(s) in rat urinary bladder.
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D013565:Sympatholytics; D001285:Atropine; D013806:Theophylline; D003000:Clonidine; D000109:Acetylcholine