Pharmacological characterization of some receptors in the rat caecum.
A simple method is described using the rat isolated caecum to screen autonomic agents. The caecum contracts to cholinomimetics and 5-HT and relaxes to sympathomimetics. Pharmacological receptors characterized in the tissue were muscarinic, and adrenergic in nature. The adrenoceptors appear to be principally a mixture of B-1 and B-2. In addition, the tissue probably contains alpha-adrenoceptors and serotonergic receptors. It did not respond to histamine. The tissue offers an advantage over the guinea-pig ileum in that it readily relaxes to sympathomimetics. It is suggested that the caecum may be useful in practical pharmacology classes.
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001337:Autonomic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002432:Cecum / Q000187:drug effects*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic / Q000032:analysis*; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013565:Sympatholytics / Q000494:pharmacology; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology
D001337:Autonomic Agents; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011941:Receptors, Adrenergic; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D013565:Sympatholytics; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D012701:Serotonin; D001285:Atropine; D000109:Acetylcholine