Different calcium dependencies of contractile activity of prostatic and epididymal portions of rat vas deferens

Regional differences in sympathetic purinergic transmission along the length of the mouse vas deferens

Contraction of the smooth muscle in the mouse vas deferens is elicited by sympathetic nerves releasing at least two neurotransmitters, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and noradrenaline (NA). Several studies have indicated the presence of regional variation in the purinergic and noradrenergic contributions to sympathetic nerve-evoked contractions in rodent vasa deferentia. We examined the relative contribution of ATP and NA to neurotransmission and contraction at the prostatic and epididymal ends of the mouse vas deferens. The success rate of recording excitatory junction currents (EJCs, extracellular indication of ATP release) from varicosities at the prostatic end of the vas deferens was eight times greater than for varicosities located at the epididymal end. Both regions of the vas deferens responded similarly to focal application of NA and ATP. Furthermore, the relative density and distribution of P2X(1)-receptor mRNA and anti-P2X(1) immunostaining did not differ between the two regions. Our results suggest that most varicosities located at the epididymal end of the vas deferens are releasing an insufficient amount of ATP to evoke detectable EJCs.

Clonidine-induced rhythmic activity in rabbit anococcygeus muscle

1. Clonidine 0.5 mM induced an extremely regular rhythmic activity in isolated rabbit anococcygeus muscle. The movements were resistant to tetrodotoxin effect. 2. Prazosin (5 x 10(-8)M-5 x 10(-6)M) and yohimbine (1.5 x 10(-7)M-5 x 10(-4)M) showed no remarkable effect on clonidine-induced rhythmic activity. 3. The clonidine-induced contractions were dependent on extracellular calcium and could be inhibited by the omission of calcium from medium or the introduction of verapamil (IC50 = 1.3 x 10(-7)M) or nifedipine (IC50 = 7.5 x 10(-8)M). 4. Pretreatment of animals with reserpine made the preparations 2800-fold more sensitive to this action of clonidine. 5. It can be concluded from this study that clonidine is able to induce rhythmic activity in rabbit anococcygeus muscle through a mechanism that increases intracellular concentration of Ca++ via membrane calcium channels.