Atropine resistance and muscarinic receptors in the rat urinary bladder

Cholinergic mechanisms in the rat detrusor muscle

The motor response of the urinary bladder to nerve stimulation is resistant to atropine, and it has been proposed that the nerves are non-cholinergic, but are possibly purinergic. In this review evidence is presented suggesting a cholinergic transmission in the rat detrusor muscle, part of the receptors being inaccessible to atropine. The rat bladder receives postganglionic cholinergic fibres not only from the pelvic but also from the hypogastric nerves, some fibres passing outside the pelvic ganglia and some relaying distal to them. There is a functional overlap between the right and the left pelvic nerve, but the contractile response to stimulation of the hypogastric nerves is added to the pelvic nerve response with no functional overlap or antagonism.

The role of the rhabdosphincter in female rat voiding

OBJECTIVES

To obtain information on the mechanisms of female rat micturition using a model in which pressure was measured in the bladder and distal part of the urethra corresponding to the location of the rhabdosphincter, providing information on the role of the sphincter in opening and closing the urethral lumen.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A micturition reflex was induced in adult anaesthetized (chloral hydrate and urethane) female rats by filling the bladder with saline. Bladder pressure (BP), urethral pressure (UP), electromyography (EMG) of the middle part of the rhabdosphincter, and urinary flow rate in the distal urethra were simultaneously recorded.

RESULTS

There were four phases of the micturition contraction, the second characterized by intraluminal pressure high-frequency oscillations (IPHFOs) of BP. When a non-oscillatory micturition contraction started, the BP increased and exceeded UP for the rest of the micturition contraction. Even though the BP increased during this first phase, the urethral lumen stayed closed. Its opening was indicated by a simultaneous decrease in BP and increase of UP as the fluid flowed from the bladder to the urethra. When the rhabdosphincter closed, as indicated by an EMG-burst of the muscle, the UP declined, bladder pressure increased and the flow ceased. Because of momentary contractions of the rhabdosphincter, the UP and urine flow rate had the same periodicity as the IPHFOs of BP.

CONCLUSIONS

The simultaneous recording of the BP, UP, EMG of the rhabdosphincter and urinary flow rate showed the sequence of events during micturition. The rhabdosphincter acts as an 'on-off' switch, causing interruptions in the urinary flow rate.

Role of the T-type Ca2+ current on the contractile performance of guinea pig detrusor smooth muscle

AIMS

The importance of the T-type Ca(2+) current in determining detrusor contractile function was investigated by using guinea pig muscle in vitro.

METHODS

NiCl(2) (200 microM) was used to block selectively the T-type Ca(2+) current, and 20 microM verapamil was used to block the L-type Ca(2+) current in this tissue. The selectivity of these agents at such concentrations has been previously demonstrated.

RESULTS

In normal extracellular solution (4 mM KCl) 200 microM NiCl(2) and 20 microM verapamil reduced electrically stimulated contractions by 17 +/- 6% and 65 +/- 10%, respectively. At high concentrations of the two agents, the contraction was completely abolished by NiCl(2) but by only 74 +/- 18% in the case of verapamil; this finding suggests that NiCl(2) has additional negative inotropic actions at higher concentrations. Carbachol and KCl contractures were attenuated to a similar extent to that of electrically stimulated contractions by NiCl(2) and verapamil, which suggests that they act on the muscle rather than the motor nerve. The dependence of the membrane potential on the relative ability of NiCl(2) and verapamil to attenuate the contraction was tested by varying the extracellular [KCl], [KCl](o). Varying [KCl](o) between 2 and 10 mM depolarised detrusor myocytes from (-65.1 +/- 4.7 mV to -42.7 +/- 4.0 mV (a slope of 32 mV per 10-fold change of [KCl](o)). In low [KCl](o),blockade by NiCl(2) was more effective and that of verapamil less effective; at high [KCl](o), the reverse potency was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

The data are consistent with the hypothesis that Ca(2+) influx through both T-type and L-type Ca(2+) channels determines the contractile status of detrusor smooth muscle and that T-type channel activity is more important at membrane potentials near the resting level. A significant role for T-type channel activity in the resting state was evident in that spontaneous contractions were attenuated to a greater extent than evoked contractions.

Evidence for purinergic neurotransmission in the urinary bladder of pithed rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the contribution of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) to segmental (L6-S2) spinal electrical stimulation evoked increases in intra-vesical pressure in pithed rats. Exogenous ATP and substance P produced dose-dependent increases in intra-vesical pressure (ED10 mmHg (dose required to elicit 10 mmHg increase in intra-vesical pressure)= 1.7 mg/kg and 1.1 microg/kg, i.v., respectively). Desensitisation (or antagonism) of P2x purinoceptors with alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-meATP; 30 microg/kg per min, i.v.) or pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid (PPADS; 10 mg/kg, i.v.) significantly (p < 0.05) antagonized the intra-vesical pressure responses to ATP (> 8 and 3.6-fold increase in ED10 mmHg, respectively) but had no significant effect on intra-vesical pressure responses to substance P. Spinal stimulation evoked frequency-dependent increases in intra-vesical pressure (EF20 mmHg (frequency required to produce 20 mmHg increase in intra-vesical pressure) = 3.4 Hz). Blockade of muscarinic cholinoceptors and adrenoceptors with atropine (3 mg/kg, i.v.), propranolol (3 mg/kg, i.v.) and phentolamine (10 mg/kg, i.v.) produced marginal attenuation of the intra-vesical pressure responses to spinal stimulation indicating a major non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) component in the overall response. The NANC responses were significantly (p < 0.05) antagonized by alpha,beta-meATP (30 microg/kg per min, i.v.) and PPADS (10 mg/kg, i.v.) (> 2.6-fold increase in EF20 mmHg), consistent with involvement of a purinergic neurotransmitter, presumably ATP. Comparative studies in young (4-6 months) and old (21-23 months) Fischer rats revealed no age-dependent changes in the relative contribution of the cholinergic and purinergic systems, with the latter being the dominant one. These findings suggest that purinergic neurotransmission, presumably mediated by ATP acting via P2x purinoceptors, represents a major component of excitatory innervation to the urinary bladder in pithed rats.

The effects of uranyl ions on neuromuscular transmission in the urinary bladder of the normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mouse

The depressant effects of uranyl nitrate on the nerve-evoked muscle contraction of urinary bladder isolated from normal and streptozotocin-diabetic mice were compared. The non-cholinergic component of the evoked bladder contraction (in the presence of atropine) was specifically sensitive to the suppressive effect of uranyl nitrate. In contrast, the cholinergic component remaining after treatment with alpha, beta-methylene ATP was rather insensitive to uranyl nitrate. The contractile responses induced by KCl, acetylcholine and ATP were also not affected by uranyl nitrate, indicating a presynaptic site of action. High Ca2+ and calmodulin inhibitors (trifluoperazine, diltiazem and W7) antagonized the suppressive effects of uranyl ions. These results suggest that the depressant effects of uranyl nitrate is mediated by a reduction of prejunctional non-cholinergic transmitter release through the calcium-calmodulin pathway. In contrast to the normal bladder, the urinary bladder of streptozotocin-diabetic mice revealed not only weaker neurogenic contractile responses to electrical field stimulation, but also a profound reduction in the depressant effect of uranyl nitrate. These findings suggest that the Ca2+ regulation of non-cholinergic neurotransmission in mouse urinary bladder may be impaired in the diabetic state.

Effect of omega-agatoxin-IVA on autonomic neurotransmission

omega-Agatoxin-IVA, a peptide from the venom of the funnel-web spider Agelenopsis aperta and a P type Ca2+ channel inhibitor, was examined for effects on responses to nerve stimulation in isolated autonomic neuroeffector preparations from the rabbit, guinea-pig and rat. Ca(2+)-dependent, tetrodotoxin sensitive, noradrenergic excitatory responses of rabbit pulmonary artery, rat vas deferens, and anococcygeus muscles, and cholinergic guinea-pig myenteric plexus preparations (all highly sensitive to the N type Ca2+ channel inhibitor omega-conotoxin-GVIA) were unaffected by omega-agatoxin-IVA (100 nM). Similarly, the neurogenic response of rat bladder, which has cholinergic, and non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) excitatory components, and the NANC inhibitory response of rat jejunum (atropine 0.5 microM- and guanethidine 5.0 microM-treated), which are partially sensitive and insensitive to omega-conotoxin-GVIA, respectively, were unaffected by omega-agatoxin-IVA (100 nM). Neurogenic NANC inhibitory responses of the guinea-pig taenia caecum, and rat anococcygeus muscles (atropine- and guanethidine-treated, and tone raised with prostaglandin F2 alpha), were also insensitive to omega-agatoxin-IVA. These results suggest that P type Ca2+ channels, if present, play an insignificant role in supplying the Ca2+ necessary for neurotransmitter release in the peripheral autonomic nervous system.

Micturition and premicturition contractions in unanesthetized rats with bladder outlet obstruction

The cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmission involved in micturition contraction and premicturition contractile activity (bladder hyperactivity) were investigated by continuous cystometry in unanesthetized rats with outlet obstruction. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), administered intra-arterially close to the bladder, produced rapid, phasic dose-dependent increases in bladder pressure and micturition immediately after the injections. The percentage volume expelled was 74 +/- 9% after 5 mg/kg. Intra-arterial alpha,beta-methylene ATP also produced a rapid, phasic increase in bladder pressure and micturition immediately after the injection. The percentage volume expelled was 96 +/- 3% after 1 mg./kg; the residual volume of the following voidings increased, and the micturition pressure tended to decrease. However, dribbling incontinence was not produced. The amplitude of the premicturition contractions decreased significantly (p < 0.01) after the administration. Intra-arterial carbachol produced rapid, longlasting dose-dependent increases in bladder pressure and micturition. The percentage volume expelled was 88 +/- 4 after 5 micrograms./kg. Bladder capacity and micturition volume decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during the following spontaneous voidings. Intra-arterial atropine (1 mg./kg.) increased bladder capacity (p < 0.01) and residual volume (p < 0.01), and tended to decrease micturition pressure (by 25%) and micturition volume. However, micturition contractions still remained after the injection, even if they changed appearance, and were of shorter duration. Atropine had no effect on the premicturition contractions. In the presence of atropine, alpha,beta-methylene ATP initially produced a rapid, phasic increase in bladder pressure with micturition. Then, dribbling incontinence was observed in 1 of 5 animals. Hexamethonium, administered intra-arterially in doses producing urinary retention and dribbling incontinence (20 or 40 mg./kg.), increased the amplitude of the premicturition contractions, but decreased the frequency of the contractions. Intra-arterial tetrodotoxin (15 micrograms./kg.) inhibited micturition, and produced dribbling incontinence in all animals tested (n = 6). However, the amplitude of the premicturition contractions was not suppressed. Intra-arterial (+/-)-pinacidil (0.2 mg./kg.) significantly (p < 0.05) decreased both amplitude and frequency of these contractions. It is concluded that both cholinergic and purinergic transmission seem to be of importance for pressure generation and emptying of the bladder in rats with outlet obstruction. The present results also give further support for the view that the premicturition contractions seen in these animals are of myogenic origin.

Functional importance of cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmission for micturition contraction in the normal, unanaesthetized rat

1. The cholinergic and purinergic neurotransmission involved in micturition in the normal, unanaesthetized rat was investigated by means of continuous cystometry. 2. ATP (1 and 5 mg kg-1), administered intra-arterially (i.a.) close to the bladder, produced rapid, phasic, dose-dependent increases in bladder pressure with micturition immediately after injection. The micturition pressure of the following spontaneous voidings increased, and bladder capacity, micturition volume, and residual volume decreased. Pretreatment with alpha,beta-methylene ATP (1 mg kg-1, i.a.) blocked the effects of ATP (5 mg kg-1). 3. alpha,beta-Methylene ATP (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg kg-1, i.a.) produced rapid, phasic, increases in bladder pressure with micturition immediately after injection. The effects of alpha,beta-methylene ATP (0.25 mg kg-1, i.a.) were not affected by pretreatment with indomethacin (0.5-2 mg kg-1, i.a.). The micturition pressure of the subsequent spontaneous voidings decreased, and bladder capacity and residual volume increased. 4. Carbachol (5-50 micrograms kg-1, i.a.) produced rapid, sustained, dose-dependent increases in bladder pressure with micturition, and then increased basal pressure, threshold pressure, and micturition pressure, and decreased bladder capacity and micturition volume during the following spontaneous voidings. 5. Atropine (1 mg kg-1, i.a.) decreased micturition pressure and micturition volume, but did not induce dribbling incontinence. Micturition contractions still occurred after the injection, but changed in appearance and were of shorter duration than before. In the presence of atropine (1 mg kg-1, i.a.), alpha,beta-methylene ATP (1 mg kg-1, i.a.) produced initially a phasic increase in bladder pressure with micturition and then dribbling incontinence in all animals tested. 6. After blockade of the micturition reflex with morphine (10 microg intrathecally), ATP (5 mg kg-1, i.a.),alpha,beta-methylene ATP (0.25-1 mg kg-1 , i.a.), and carbachol (5-500 microg kg-1, i.a.) were unable to empty the bladder.7. The results suggest that drug-induced bladder emptying in the normal, unanaesthetized rat requires an intact micturition reflex and they support the view that the two physiologically important transmitters involved in micturition are acetylcholine and ATP.

Atropine-resistant transmission in partially depolarized rat urinary bladder

1. Phasic contractile responses of the intact rat urinary bladder to the muscarinic agonists carbachol and pilocarpine became nearly blocked as the concentrations were progressively increased to 200-500 microM. In contrast, tonic contractile responses remained elevated throughout progressive increases in agonist concentration. 2. Nerve-induced phasic contractions to 1 Hz stimuli were potentiated throughout progressive increases in the concentration of muscarinic agonists. However, these responses were more atropine sensitive than untreated controls and responses to 1 Hz stimuli were nearly abolished. 3. After inhibition of cholinesterase, the action of cholinergic transmitter released during prolonged nerve stimulation may extend to the tonic contractile state of the bladder and potentiate responses to 1H stimuli. Nerve-induced responses were more atropine sensitive than untreated controls. 4. Bladder tone was increased and nerve-induced contractions to 1-Hz stimuli were also potentiated in an elevated K+ environment. However, atropine sensitivity of nerve-induced responses w s reduced. 5. Nerve-induced bladder contractions were linked to the tonic contractile state of the bladder muscle, controlled physiologically by muscarinic receptors. Since phasic contractile responses to muscarinic agonists were abolished at high concentrations by receptor desensitization, nerve-induced responses must be elicited under these conditions by a non-cholinergic transmitter.

Further studies on mechanisms regulating the voiding cycle of the rat urinary bladder

1. The effect of transection of pudendal or hypogastric nerves and of various pharmacological pretreatments on the bladder voiding cycle elicited by saline filling was investigated in urethane-anesthetized rats. 2. Sectioning of pudendal nerves reduced efficiency of the expulsive phase of the voiding cycle while sectioning of hypogastric nerves enhanced voiding efficiency and reduced residual volume. 3. An increased voiding efficiency was also observed in 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats. 4. Atropine and physostigmine decreased and increased voiding efficiency, respectively. Indomethacin pretreatment produced a marked increase in residual volume. 5. These findings indicate that the autonomic innervation of the bladder and urethra as well as production of local factors such as prostanoids regulates not only the collecting phase of the cystometragram but also influence markedly voiding efficiency.

Opioid-like action of eseroline on micturition reflex in rats

1. Eseroline (3-10 mg/kg s.c.), the first product of metabolic breakdown of eserine (physostigmine) markedly increased bladder capacity and decreased voiding efficiency of reflex micturition in rats. 2. Eserine had an opposite effect on bladder function in vivo, while morphine (1-3 mg/kg s.c.) reproduced the action of eseroline. The effects of eseroline or morphine were prevented by naloxone which per se reduced bladder capacity. 3. In vitro both eserine and eseroline potentiated the cholinergic component of the twitch response to field stimulation of the rat bladder and this effect was atropine-sensitive while morphine had no effect. 4. These findings provide further support to the notion that eseroline possesses both eserine- and opioid-like actions, but this latter predominates in determining its actions on bladder function in vivo.

The effect of omega conotoxin GVIA, a peptide modulator of the N-type voltage sensitive calcium channels, on motor responses produced by activation of efferent and sensory nerves in mammalian smooth muscle

1. The effect of omega-conotoxin (CTX) GVIA, a peptide which blocks neuronal calcium channels, were investigated on nerve-mediated motor responses in a variety of isolated smooth muscle preparations from rats and guinea-pigs. 2. In the rat or guinea-pig isolated vas deferens CTX (1 nM-1 microM) produced a concentration and time-related inhibition of the response to field stimulation, while the responses to KCl, noradrenaline or adenosine triphosphate were unaffected. In the presence of CTX a series of tetrodotoxin-resistant contractions could be elicited by field stimulation by increasing pulse width and/or voltage. 3. In the rat or guinea-pig isolated urinary bladder, CTX produced a concentration and time-dependent inhibition of twitch responses to field stimulation without affecting the response to exogenous acetylcholine. In the rat bladder the maximal effect did not exceed 25% inhibition while a much larger fraction of the response (about 70%) was inhibited in the guinea-pig bladder. The CTX-resistant response was abolished, in both tissues, by tetrodotoxin. 4. The effects of CTX in the rat bladder were also studied with a whole range of frequencies of field stimulation (0.1-50 Hz). Maximal inhibition was observed toward contractions elicited at frequencies of 2-5 Hz. At low frequencies the inhibitory effects of CTX and atropine were almost additive while at high frequencies of stimulation a large component of the atropine-sensitive response was CTX-resistant. 5. In the rat isolated proximal duodenum, field stimulation in the presence of atropine and guanethidine produced a primary relaxation followed by a rebound contraction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Tachykinin-like immunoreactivity in the mammalian urinary bladder: correlation with the functions of the capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves

The tachykinin-like immunoreactivity of the urinary bladder has been measured in various species by means of an antiserum (K12) having negligible cross-reactivity with substance P. The rank order for bladder content of tachykinin-like immunoreactivity was guinea-pig greater than mice greater than rat, similar to that found for substance P-like immunoreactivity. In all three species, both substance P- and tachykinin-like immunoreactivities were depleted by systemic capsaicin desensitization. The time course for depletion of substance P- and tachykinin-like immunoreactivities of the rat bladder following extrinsic denervation was almost superimposable. At reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography, the major constituent of tachykinin-like immunoreactivity of the rat bladder co-eluted with neurokinin A. In vitro, the contractile response of the rat bladder to capsaicin (1 microM) was directly proportional to bladder tachykinin-like immunoreactivity while the response to field stimulation was not. In vivo, the volume threshold for reflex micturition was inversely proportional to bladder tachykinin-like immunoreactivity while amplitude of micturition contraction was not. Similar correlations were found in a previous study for substance P-like immunoreactivity. The contractile response to capsaicin or neurokinin A of the rat isolated bladder were significantly reduced by incubation with phenoxybenzamine at a concentration reported to produce a selective alkylation of neurokinin-2 receptors, while the response to substance P or KCl was unaffected. These findings indicate that multiple neurokinins co-exist in those bladder sensory nerves which are capsaicin-sensitive in adult rats. Both substance P- and tachykinin-like immunoreactivities in the rat bladder appear to be good functional markers of the sensory and "efferent" functions mediated by capsaicin-sensitive nerves, consistent with the hypothesis of a transmitter role for the corresponding peptides.

Neuroeffector mechanisms in the voiding cycle of the guinea-pig urinary bladder

1. The effect of drugs expected to modify cholinergic (atropine, physostigmine) or GABA-ergic (GABA, picrotoxin, bicuculline methiodide, BMI) neurotransmission were investigated on the voiding cycle of the urinary bladder in urethane-anaesthetized guinea-pigs. 2. Transvesical saline infusion elicited a series of regular voiding cycles which were abolished by topical tetrodotoxin as well as by topical or intravenous (i.v.) hexamethonium, thus indicating their reflex neurogenic origin. 3. Either i.v. or topical atropine decreased amplitude and duration of micturition contraction, reduced efficiency of bladder voiding and, in about 30% of preparations, suppressed micturition (overflow incontinence). Either topical or i.v. physostigmine potentiated, in an atropine-sensitive manner, voiding efficiency. 4. GABA was administered during the ascending limb of the voiding cycle: i.v. GABA inhibited while topical GABA increased efficiency of the first voiding cycle. Both direction and intensity of the effect of GABA were dependent upon initial pressures. The second and following voiding cycles after GABA administration were inhibited transiently. 5. Either topical or i.v. picrotoxin or BMI potentiated the efficiency of the voiding cycle of the guinea-pig bladder. In these preparations either i.v. or topical GABA (administered during the ascending limb of the voiding cycle) produced only inhibitory effects on voiding efficiency. 6. These findings indicate that, in guinea-pigs, bladder voiding is largely dependent upon an intact cholinergic neurotransmission. Although amplitude of the initial voiding contraction is largely atropine-resistant, its duration and, consequently, degree of bladder voiding, are strongly influenced by blockade (atropine) or potentiation (physostigmine) of cholinergic neurotransmission. Endogenous GABA-ergic mechanism modulate, possibly at peripheral level, the voiding efficiency of the guinea-pig bladder. GABA exerts a complex neuromodulatory influence on voiding function, its overall effect being mainly influenced by resting parameters.

A putative non-cholinergic mechanism in urinary bladders of New but not Old World primates

The effects of atropine on bladder contractions evoked by sacral ventral root stimulation were investigated in two species of New World monkey (marmoset and cebus) and in paraplegic man. The findings were then compared to those previously obtained for the cat and two species of Old World monkey (rhesus and baboon). The results show the marmoset and cebus to represent a transitional stage between the complete sensitivity of the bladders of Old World monkeys to atropine and the relative insensitivity of the cat bladder. The bladder response is shown to comprise two components, an atropine sensitive component which is slow in onset and an atropine resistant component which is easily fatigued. The experiments in paraplegic people confirm that the parasympathetic innervation of the bladder of man is, like that of Old World monkeys, exclusively cholinergic. A behavioural interpretation is tentatively offered to explain the two types of innervation.

The nonstop transvesical cystometrogram in urethane-anesthetized rats: a simple procedure for quantitative studies on the various phases of urinary bladder voiding cycle

A new cystometric procedure that involves a nonstop transvesical (through a needle inserted into the bladder dome) infusion of saline in urethane-anesthetized rats is described. This permits the obtainment of a series of repetitive voiding cycles in both male and female rats. Recording at high-chart speed permits quantitative measurements of the various phases of the voiding cycle. Micturition was almost invariably associated with appearance, during a sustained increase of intravesical pressure, of a series of high-frequency oscillations, which were paralleled by a stream-like emission of the infused fluid. Micturition was not observed after topical tetrodotoxin, after bilateral transection of pelvic nerves, or in acute spinal rats. Intravenous hexamethonium produced a dose-related impairment of the voiding cycle, and, at high doses, suppressed micturition, and overflow incontinence ensued. The experimental procedure described herein appears to be suitable for physiopharmacological studies dealing with regulation of voiding cycle.

The postganglionic excitatory innervation of the mouse urinary bladder and its modulation by prejunctional GABAB receptors

Field stimulation produced reproducible contractions of the mouse isolated urinary bladder whose amplitude was frequency-related. These contractions were partially sensitive to atropine (3 microM), unaffected by hexamethonium (10 microM) and almost abolished by tetrodotoxin (0.5 microM). Atropine (3 microM) suppressed contractions produced by exogenous acetylcholine thereby indicating atropine-resistance of the nerve-mediated contractions. Nerve-mediated contractions of the mouse urinary bladder were enhanced by physostigmine (0.1-0.5 microM) and inhibited by hemicholinium-3 (0.5 mM) thus confirming the presence of a cholinergic component in the excitatory postganglionic innervation. Atropine (3 microM) inhibition of the nerve-mediated contractions increased with increasing duration and strength of the train of stimulation. The nerve-mediated contractions of the mouse bladder were unaffected by phentolamine (0.2 microM), propranolol (0.3 microM) or indomethacin (5 microM). ATP (1mM) the major candidate for the role of nonadrenergic-noncholinegic (NANC) excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian urinary bladder produced a contraction of the mouse isolated bladder. Exposure to the stable ATP analogue alpha, beta-methylene ATP (APCPP) or beta, gamma-methylene ATP (APPCP) produced a partial desensitization of the nerve-mediated response which, for APCPP, was greater in the presence than in the absence of atropine (3 microM). In the presence of atropine (3 microM) and after APCPP desensitization the amplitude of the response to field stimulation amounted to about 20% of the original response and was sensitive to tetrodotoxin, indicating that it is nerve-mediated. GABA (0.001-0.3 mM) inhibited the amplitude of field stimulation induced contractions of mouse urinary bladder. This effect was mimicked by the selective GABAB receptor agonist, (+/-)-baclofen, but not by the selective GABAA receptor agonist, homotaurine. GABA and (+/-)-baclofen exhibited cross-desensitization. The GABA-or (+/-)-baclofen-induced inhibition of the nerve-mediated contractions were reduced by previous exposure to homotaurine (1 mM) or to 5-aminovaleric acid (2 mM), two GABAB receptor antagonists. On the other hand the inhibitory effects of GABA or (+/-)-baclofen were unaffected by picrotoxin (0.1 mM), a selective GABAA receptor antagonist. The inhibitory effect of GABA on nerve-mediated contractions was reduced in the presence of atropine or hemicholinium-3 as well as following desensitization of P2-purinoreceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Characterization of cholinoreceptors in the rat urinary bladder by the use of agonists and antagonists of the cholinergic system

The effects of stimulatory and inhibitory compounds acting on both nicotinic and muscarinic receptors have been evaluated in the isolated urinary bladder from adult and immature (14-18 days old) rats. Acetylcholine and bethanechol were found to induce concentration-dependent contractions which were inhibited by atropine and pirenzepine; compound McN-A-343 had a negligible contractile activity whereas DMPP had no effect at all. Responses to electrical field stimulation were abolished by tetrodotoxin (3 X 10(-8) M), enhanced by eserine (10(-8) M) and scarcely affected by hexamethonium (10(-3) M), trimethaphan (10(-3) M) and d-tubocurarine (10(-3) M). Atropine, pirenzepine and DMPP induced only a partial inhibition (50%) of the twitch response, whereas compound McN-A-343 caused a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect which was maximum (100% inhibition) at 10(-2) M. No significant differences were found between results obtained in immature and adult animals as regards either the stimulatory or the inhibitory compounds tested. It was concluded that postjunctional muscarinic receptors were responsible for the stimulatory responses observed, whereas an additional involvement of unknown mechanisms, probably not related to the cholinergic system, was suggested by the peculiar results obtained with DMPP and compound McN-A-343 on electrically-stimulated urinary bladder. Whatever the mechanisms involved, however, they are already present at the first stage of postnatal development.

Pharmacological evidence for the existence of two components in the twitch response to field stimulation of detrusor strips from the rat urinary bladder

Isolated strips from the anterior dome of the rat urinary bladder respond to single pulse field stimulation with a contraction. Two distinct components of this contraction ("early' and "late') could be observed, both of which were unaffected by hexamethonium (10 microM) and almost abolished by tetrodotoxin (1 microM) indicating their dependence on neurotransmitter release from postganglionic nerve endings. Atropine (3 microM) inhibited the "late' component (over 60%) to a significantly greater extent than the "early' component (less than 10%) Amplitude of the "early' component was usually greater than that of the "late' component. There was almost no difference between the "early' and "late' component in respect of their relationship to stimulus strength and pulse duration. Physostigmine (0.03 microM) enhanced both components of the nerve-mediated contraction, although enhancement of the "late' component was much greater than that of the "early' one. Tetraethylammonium (TEA, 0.5-5 mM) enhanced, in a concentration-related manner, both "early' and "late' components of the nerve-mediated contraction. Following exposure to physostigmine or TEA (5 mM) both "early' and "late' components of contraction were almost completely inhibited by tetrodotoxin. Atropine inhibition was more evident on the "late' as compared to "early' component of contraction. These findings demonstrate the presence, in the twitch response of rat isolated urinary bladder to field stimulation, of two nerve-mediated components which exhibit a different susceptibility to atropine and physostigmine.

Atropine blockade of nerve-mediated stimulation of the human detrusor

The effect of atropine on the isometric contractile response of isolated human detrusor muscle strips to electrical field stimulation has been studied. A 94.1% reduction in the response in the presence of tetrodotoxin demonstrated the neuronal nature of the stimulus. Atropine caused a 92.7% inhibition of the response. It was concluded that the nerve-mediated stimulus in human detrusor is cholinergic in nature and that "atropine resistance" does not occur in man.

Pharmacological evidence for selective inhibition of gastric acid secretion by telenzepine, a new antimuscarinic drug

The new antisecretory drug, telenzepine (4,9-dihydro-3-methyl-4-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)acetyl]-10H-thieno-[3,4 - b][1,5]benzodiazepin-10-one), was investigated for its inhibition of functionally intact muscarinic receptors involved in gastric acid secretion in rabbit fundic glands, perfused mouse stomach in vitro, perfused rat stomach in situ, gastric fistula in rats and dogs with a Heidenhain pouch. The effects on these receptors were contrasted with effects on receptors located on smooth muscle and heart, i.e. isolated rat urinary bladder, stomach and atrium. The results were compared to those values obtained with nonselective antimuscarinic drugs (N-methylscopolamine, atropine) and the selective M-1 antagonist pirenzepine. Telenzepine was found to be 4-10 times more potent than pirenzepine with respect to depressing both gastric acid secretion and smooth muscle or myocardial responses. Based on -log EC50 and pA2 values, both drugs exhibited a similar selectivity profile differing from the pattern of effects observed with atropine or a second reference compound, zolenzepine. As compared with atropine, telenzepine exhibited a 5 fold higher relative affinity to muscarinic receptors involved in gastric acid secretion. It was concluded that telenzepine is selective to discriminate between muscarinic receptors mediating gastric acid secretion and affecting muscle contractility and that this finding supports the concept of muscarinic receptor heterogeneity.

Neuropeptide action on the guinea-pig bladder; a comparison with the effects of field stimulation and ATP

A comparison was made between the effects of several neuropeptides and ATP as possible mediators of the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic excitatory response in detrusor strips from the guinea-pig urinary bladder. Both substance P and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide produced contractions of the guinea-pig bladder, but the form of the atropine-resistant neurogenic excitation was mimicked more precisely by ATP. Neither methionine enkephalin nor leucine enkephalin had a prominent direct action on the smooth muscle (up to 100 microM) and did not significantly modify the cholinergic or non-cholinergic components of the response elicited by field stimulation. A proteolytic enzyme, chymotrypsin (10 U/ml), antagonised the excitatory effect of substance P, but not that of the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic excitatory response or ATP. The slow excitation elicited by a high concentration of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (10 microM), in contrast to responses elicited by ATP or field stimulation, was attenuated by preincubation with the structurally related polypeptide PHI, which was itself inactive (up to 10 microM). The present observations argue against a role for the peptides studied as neuromuscular transmitters in the detrusor but do not preclude such a role for ATP.

The effects of nicotine on spontaneous contractions of cat urinary bladder in situ

Nicotine and dimethyl-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP) increased intravesicular pressure and then transiently depressed the spontaneous activity of the urinary bladder in chloralose anaesthetized cats. Adrenaline (5-10 micrograms kg-1), noradrenaline (5-20 micrograms kg-1) and isoprenaline (40-50 micrograms kg-1) which depressed spontaneous urinary bladder activity, were antagonized by the beta-receptor blocking agent propranolol (1 mg kg-1). Phenylephrine (10-30 micrograms kg-1) was ineffective on the urinary bladder though it increased the systemic blood pressure. This latter effect was blocked by the alpha-receptor blocking agent phentolamine (2 mg kg-1). Acetylcholine (2-8 micrograms kg-1) caused a marked fall in systemic blood pressure, which was potentiated by physostigmine, but failed to produce any response on the intravesicular pressure even after physostigmine (50-100 micrograms kg-1) treatment. ATP (2 mg kg-1) produced an increase in intravesicular pressure accompanied by a fall in systemic blood pressure. The increased intravesicular pressure was antagonized by quinidine (20 mg kg-1); however, the fall in blood pressure remained unaltered. The increased intravesicular pressure induced by nicotine (20-40 micrograms kg-1) or DMPP (50-100 micrograms kg-1) was not affected by phentolamine (2 mg kg-1), propranolol (1 mg kg-1) or guanethidine (15-20 mg kg-1). Physostigmine (50-100 micrograms kg-1), hemicholinium 3 (2 mg kg-1) or atropine (1 mg kg-1) were also unable to affect the response to nicotine. Hexamethonium (1 mg kg-1), reduced the amplitude of spontaneous bladder contractions and quinidine (20 mg kg-1) abolished the effect of nicotine. 7 Bilateral sectioning of the cervical sympathetic or hypogastric nerves did not alter the effect of nicotine or DMPP. Higher spinal cord transection (Cl-C2) blocked the spontaneous, as well as the nicotine- and DMPP-induced, contractions of the bladder. 8 It is concluded that the increase in intravesicular pressure induced by nicotine is atropineresistant and is not mediated either through adrenergic or cholinergic mechanisms. It is probable that a purinergic mechanism is involved, via the activation of P2-receptors present in the urinary bladder.

GABAB receptor mediated inhibition of field stimulation induced contractions of detrusor muscle strips from newborn rats

The effect of GABA on field stimulation (0.1 Hz) induced contractions have been examined on detrusor strips from adult and newborn rats. Field stimulation induced contractions were unaffected by hexamethonium (10(-5) M) but almost suppressed by tetrodotoxin (5 X 10(-7) M) in both age groups. Atropine (3 X 10(-6) M) produced a marked inhibition of twitches in detrusor strips from newborn rats but only a slight (10% or less) inhibition in strips from adult animals. Neither GABA (10(-4), homotaurine (10(-3) M) or (+/-)-baclofen (10(-4] affected twitches in detrusor strips from adults rats. On the other hand both GABA and (+/-)-baclofen inhibited, to about the same extent (55-60% inhibition) twitches in detrusor strips from newborn animals. Homotaurine had no significant effect. The effects of both GABA (10(-4) M) and (+/-)-baclofen (10(-4) M) on twitches in detrusor strips from newborn rats were reduced if the preparations were previously exposed to a low concentration of GABA (5 X 10(-6) M) thus indicating desensitization. The inhibitory effect of GABA on twitches in newborn rats were concentration dependent in the range of 10(-7) to 10(-4) M. The GABAA receptor antagonist picrotoxin (10(-4) M) had no effect on the GABA concentration response curve whereas the GABAB receptor antagonist, homotaurine, produced an antagonism of the competitive type. The calculated pA2 value for the GABA-homotaurine interaction was 4.4 +/- 0.07. Neither GABA (10(-4) M) nor (+/-)-baclofen (10(-4) M) produced any significant inhibition of acetylcholine (2 X 10(-7) M) induced contractions of detrusor of strips from newborn rats, while atropine (3 X 10(-6) M) completely suppressed them. These results indicate that GABA inhibits field stimulation induced contractions of detrusor strips from newborn rats by activating prejunctional receptors (presumably of the GABAB subtype) which inhibit the release of acetylcholine from the postganglionic nerve endings.

The effects of clonidine on electrically-induced contractions of rat detrusor strips in vitro

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.

Atropine resistance of transmurally stimulated isolated human bladder muscle

Human detrusor strips were obtained from patients undergoing reimplantation of ureters because of reflux, transvesical prostatectomy, or cysto-urethrectomy en bloc because of bladder malignancy. The strips were electrically stimulated. A frequency-dependent contractant response was obtained that was potentiated by physostigmine and abolished by tetrodotoxin. The maximum response approximately equaled that of acetylcholine in a maximum concentration. In most bladder preparations from patients without known functional bladder disturbances, atropine (0.01 to 0.1 microM) had a marked inhibitory effect, and at concentrations exceeding 1 microM the blockade was complete. In strips obtained from patients undergoing transvesical prostatectomy, and who also had a cystometrically verified unstable bladder, there was a varying degree of atropine resistance, with some preparations showing a 50 per cent resistance to atropine. Prazosin, phentolamine, yohimbine, guanethidine, clonidine, and noradrenaline had no consistent effects on the electrically induced bladder contraction. Nifedipine and nimodipine caused a maximum of 65 per cent inhibition of the response. Addition of nimodipine to atropine-resistant strips when maximum atropine inhibition had been reached abolished the contractions. Omitting calcium from the bath solution rapidly abolished the electrically induced contraction. It is suggested that in the normal human bladder the contraction induced by electrical stimulation is mainly atropine sensitive. However, in the functionally disturbed bladder, part of the bladder contraction is atropine resistant, a finding that may have clinical implications.

Direct evidence against a role of ATP as the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurotransmitter in guinea pig tenia coli

Electrical field stimulation of the isolated guinea pig tenia coli in the presence of a muscarinic receptor antagonist (atropine) and an adrenergic neuron blocker (guanethidine) produces relaxation. A large amount of indirect evidence has suggested that the neurotransmitter that is released from these nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurons is ATP or a related nucleotide, and the nerves have been termed "purinergic." A photoaffinity analog of ATP, arylazido aminopropionyl ATP, which produces a specific pharmacological antagonism of P2 purinergic receptors in isolated guinea pig vas deferens and urinary bladder, was utilized in the present study to evaluate directly whether ATP is the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurotransmitter in tenia coli. By blocking postjunctional P2 receptors, arylazido aminopropionyl ATP produced a pronounced antagonism of relaxations induced by exogenously added ATP. Responses produced by ADP, AMP, and adenosine also were antagonized by arylazido aminopropionyl ATP, but to a lesser extent. Inhibitory responses to isoproterenol were not antagonized. Under these conditions of established, specific P2-receptor blockade of responses to exogenously added ATP, relaxations induced by field stimulation of intrinsic inhibitory nerves in the presence of atropine (1 microM) and guanethidine (1 microM) were not antagonized. Though these results provide no indication of the actual substance involved, they suggest strongly that the nonadrenergic, noncholinergic inhibitory neurotransmitter in the guinea pig tenia coli is not ATP.

The effects of parasympathetic blocking agents on bladder electromyograms and function in conscious and anaesthetized cats

Voiding induced in conscious cats by infusion of sterile saline into the bladder via a chronically implanted bladder catheter was stable over many months. Artefact-free recordings of electrical activity obtained from the bladder neck and dome of these preparations during bladder filling and voiding showed characteristic voiding electromyograms but did not permit a functional differentiation. Both voiding and the associated electromyogram were abolished by the ganglion blocking agent, pentolinium. Hyoscine or methyl atropine did not affect the electromyogram but impaired the ability of cats to empty their bladders completely. In anaesthetized cats, ganglion blocking agents prevented a rise in bladder pressure during sacral ventral root stimulation but a hyoscine-sensitive bladder contraction was seen following the period of stimulation. Further stimulation during this post-stimulus rise in intravesical pressure revealed a hyoscine-sensitive stimulus-bound relaxation. Sacral ventral root stimulation relaxed the bladder neck/proximal urethra particularly in the presence of sympathetic tone.

The effects of purified botulinum neurotoxin type A on cholinergic, adrenergic and non-adrenergic, atropine-resistant autonomic neuromuscular transmission

The twitch response observed during low frequency electrical stimulation of postganglionic cholinergic neurones supplying the longitudinal smooth muscle of the guinea-pig ileum was markedly reduced by incubation with an homogeneous preparation of botulinum type A neurotoxin (4.3-8.6 nM). This intoxication of the autonomic cholinergic neurones was long-lasting, irreversible by washing, but readily reversed by 4-aminopyridine (50-1000 microM). The noradrenergic motor response of the rat anococcygeus following field stimulation was partially antagonised by the neurotoxin. The non-adrenergic inhibitory response of the guinea-pig taenia coli, elicited by field stimulation, was not antagonised by botulinum toxin, suggesting that a source of a non-adrenergic inhibitory transmitter exists, other than intramural cholinergic neurones. However, the neurogenic excitatory responses of the guinea-pig bladder, elicited by field stimulation in the presence of atropine and guanethidine, were virtually abolished by botulinum toxin. It is suggested that the parasympathetic neurones which supply the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig urinary bladder co-release acetylcholine and a non-cholinergic excitatory transmitter; ATP or polypeptides are possible candidates.

Lack of correlation between ultrastructural and pharmacological types of non-adrenergic autonomic nerves

In order to test the premise that non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) autonomic nerves have a distinctive ultrastructural appearance, clearly different from that of cholinergic nerves, a detailed quantitative ultrastructural analysis has been made of the non-adrenergic innervation of 15 tissues thought from pharmacological evidence to be innervated by NANC nerves (rat and rabbit anococcygeus muscles; rabbit hepatic portal vein; extrinsically denervated toad lung); cholinergic nerves (atria of rat, rabbit, guinea-pig and toad); or both (guinea-pig cervical and thoracic trachealis muscle; rabbit rectococcygeus muscle; urinary bladder of rat, rabbit, guinea-pig and toad) in addition to their adrenergic supply. Following fixation with a modified chromaffin procedure allowing identification of adrenergic nerves, large, randomly selected samples of non-adrenergic nerve profiles from each tissue were analysed with respect to numbers, relative proportions, and size frequency distributions of different vesicle classes within the profiles. The neuromuscular relationships within each tissue were also analysed. On the basis of these analyses, it is clear that there are no consistent ultrastructural differences between cholinergic and NANC autonomic nerves: neither proportions nor sizes of the vesicles provide any clue as to the transmitter used by a particular nerve. The great majority of nerve profiles, whether cholinergic or NANC, contain predominantly small clear "synaptic" vesicles. Large filled "peptidergic" vesicles are no more common in most NANC

Pharmacological characterization of the excitatory innervation to the guinea-pig urinary bladder in vitro: evidence for both cholinergic and non-adrenergic-non-cholinergic neurotransmission

1 Field stimulation of strips of guinea-pig isolated urinary bladder with 5 s trains at 0.1 to 15 Hz resulted in frequency-dependent, reproducible contractions. 2 At concentrations of 1 and 4 x 10(-7) M and 1 x 10(-6) M, atropine produced a variable, partial inhibition of contractions at all frequencies but was most effective at frequencies of 3 Hz or more. 3 Tetrodotoxin (TTX), 5 x 10(-7) M, inhibited contractions at all frequencies by 80 to 90%. 4 Physostigmine, 2 x 10(-6) M, significantly enhanced the contractile response to frequencies of less than 10 Hz but did not enhance responses resistant to inhibition by atropine. Hexamethonium, 1 x 10(-4) M, slightly enhanced the contractile response to frequencies of 4 Hz or greater. 5 (+/-)-Propranolol (5 x 10(-6)M), guanethidine (1 x 10(-6)M), phentolamine (5 x 10(-6)M) and clonidine (3 x 10(-8)M) each enhanced the contractile response to field stimulation. 6 Contractile responses obtained in the presence of atropine (4 x 10(-7) M) and guanethidine (1 x 10(-6) M) increased with time and were inhibited 60 to 80% by TTX (5 x 10(-7)M. 7 It is concluded that the cholinergic nervous system contributes, in part, to electrically-induced excitatory contractions of the isolated urinary bladder of the guinea-pig. Concomitant sympathetic stimulation appears to serve an inhibitory role. In addition, a major portion of the contractile response appears to be due to a non-cholinergic non-adrenergic, as yet unidentified, substance.

Atropine and micturition responses by rats with intact and partially innervated bladder

1 Micturition responses by a group of 17 rats wee recorded during a water diuresis. During a 2 h period, uniform volumes of urine were passes at regular intervals; the mean of the voiding responses by each animal was consistent from one water loading period to another. Residual urine volumes were physiologically insignificant. 2 Atropine treatment did not compromise seriously micturition by water-loaded rats. Treated animals micturated more frequently; the mean volume was 68% of control. The residual urine volume was equal to that of controls. 3 Several week after the surgical removal of half the motor innervation of the bladder, there was no significant effect on micturition. Mean voiding volumes were not different from those of controls; residual urine volumes were the same as before denervation. 4 After half the innervation of the bladder had been destroyed. The effect of atropine on micturition was enhanced. Volumes passes were 50% of control; large residual volumes remained when micturition was over. Only in this group could bladder distension be found. 5 It is concluded that functional responses of the rat urinary bladder are not only resistant to atropine but also to the sizeable reduction in the number of neuroeffector units in the bladder itself. The functional reserve of the rat bladder musculature is remarkably high when assessed by its ability to empty adequately.

Influence of atropine and isoprenaline on detrusor hyperactivity in children with neurogenic bladder

Bladder hyperactivity defined as unconscious, involuntary detrusor contractions giving rise to intravesical pressure increase of at least 15 cm H2O and of minimum 15 sec duration, has been examined in 9 children with myelodysplasia and incontinence. The effect of atropine and isoprenaline on the hyperactivity pattern was evaluated. Atropine had a dose-related inhibiting influence on both frequency and amplitude of detrusor contractions whereas isoprenaline was without these favourable effects.

Neuromuscular transmission in the corpus-fundus of the urinary bladder. An in vitro study in the cat

In muscle strips from the corpus-fundus of the cat bladder the intramural nervous system was activated by field stimulation. The resulting muscle contraction could not be inhibited by atropine, phentolamine or quinidine. These drugs enhanced the response. Tetrodotoxin, methysergide, cyproheptadine and indomethacin blocked the field-stimulation response in a dose dependent manner. The interpretation of these results with references to transmission at the neuromuscular junction of the bladder is discussed.

Compensatory increase of responses to nerve stimulation of the partially denervated rat urinary bladder

The rat urinary bladder was deprived of half of its innervation by removing the pelvic ganglion on one side. The motor response of such a partially denervated bladder to stimulation of the pelvic nerve on the other side were examined 1 week, 1 month and 2 months postoperatively. On all three occasions the increase in pressure of the operated bladder was larger than that of the control bladder; the enlargement was most marked 2 months after operation. The responses were further enlarged by eserine, and markedly reduced by atropine. The present results combined with those of previous investigations, showing a rapid recovery in the activity of the acetylcholine forming enzyme from a reduced level and a transient supersensitivity to chemical stimuli after unilateral removal of the pelvic ganglion, suggest that the enlarged responses to nerve stimulation 1 week postoperatively are mainly due to sensitization, while those observed at the later stages are due to collateral sprouting from the cholinergic nerve fibres of the intact pelvic nerve.

ATP, beta-gamma-methylene-ATP, and adenosine inhibit non-cholinergic non-adrenergic transmission in rat urinary bladder

ATP and adenosine caused a dose-dependent and reversible inhibition of the atropine-resistant contraction response to transmural nerve stimulation in the rat urinary bladder. Both purines also inhibited contraction responses to acetylcholine and direct muscle stimulation, indicating a postjunctional effect on the transmission. It seems as ATP per se inhibits the excitatory transmission, because the stable ATP-analogue beta-gamma-methylene-ATP was inhibitory as well, and because exogenous adenosine deaminase annulled the inhibition by adenosine but not that by ATP or beta-gamma-methylene-ATP. Blockade of purine inactivation enhanced the inhibitory action of ATP and adenosine, and by itself inhibited the transmission. These results are consistent with the possibility that endogenous purines may modulate non-cholinergic non-adrenergic excitatory transmission in the rat urinary bladder.

The effect of troxypyrrolidinium, a choline uptake inhibitor, on the excitatory innervation of the rat urinary bladder

Troxypyrrolidinium, a choline uptake inhibitor, reduced but failed to abolish responses of the rat urinary bladder to electrical stimulation at 1-100 Hz although it reduced acetylcholine output during stimulation at 10 Hz to a level similar to that of spontaneous release. Inhibition of the response to stimulation was more complete at faster rates of stimulation and was partially reversed by choline. Troxypyrrolidinium produced a greater inhibition of the 'tonic' component of the response to electrical stimulation than of the 'phasic' component. Hemicholinium-3 or hyoscine produced a similar selective effect on the 'tonic' component. Hemicholinium-3 also reduced acetylcholine output during electrical stimulation to a similar extent as troxypyrrolidinium but hyoscine increased transmitter output. The results support the concept of a second transmitter in the excitatory innervation of the bladder.

Potentiation of nerve-induced bladder responses by tetraethylammonium in relation to junctional and extrajunctional muscarinic receptors

1 The single stimulus responses elicited in the rat urinary bladder were enhanced up to 3 fold by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) in the range 2.5 to 10 mM. Responses elicited by repetitive stimulation at 20 Hz were potentiated much less by 2.5 and 5 mM TEA; 10 mM TEA depressed the responses to less than control levels.2 The responses elicited in preparations treated with tetrodotoxin or botulinum toxin during the 20 Hz stimulus trains were one third to one half of control, while single stimulus responses were abolished altogether. After 10 mM TEA the response to the 20 Hz stimulus trains were near control but the single stimulus responses were not restored at all.3 The single stimulus response of control and of TEA-treated bladder preparations were unaffected by atropine (2 x 10(-6) M) but responses elicited by a 20 Hz stimulus train were reduced more than 40% by atropine. After 5 mM TEA the responses to the 20 Hz stimulus trains that had been partially blocked by atropine were immediately restored to near control levels.4 The responses of bladders to carbachol were dose-dependent in the range 10(-6) to 10(-5) M and were atropine-sensitive. After 5 mM TEA the means of the responses produced by graded doses of carbachol were less than control; muscarinic receptors that were blocked by TEA are probably also atropine-sensitive.5 It is suggested that muscarinic receptors in the rat urinary bladder may be divided into: (1) junctional receptors that are resistant to atropine and may be indirectly affected by TEA and (2) extrajunctional receptors that are blocked by atropine and may be directly affected by TEA.

Interaction of prostaglandins and adenosine 5'-triphosphate in the noncholinergic neurotransmission in rabbit detrusor

Part of the excitatory transmission in rabbit detrusor is noncholinergic and nonadrenergic, and prostaglandins (PGs) and adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) have been implicated in this transmission. The present experiments investigate the possibility of an interaction between PGs and ATP in rabbit detrusor. Indomethacin (2.8 muM) depressed the contraction produced by ATP although it did not antagonize the contraction produced by carbachol. Treatment of detrusor strips with 1.5 mM ATP depressed the frequency response curve in field stimulated tissues. This depression was additive with that produced by atropine. In the present experiments indomethacin did not significantly augment the effect of desensitization with ATP. It is suggested that the atropine-resistant neurotransmission in rabbit detrusor may involve both ATP and PGs acting in cooperation.

Experience with measurement of bladder electrical activity

A series of patients is presented in whom the recording of bladder electrical activity was performed. There was a significant difference in frequency of the spike activity between patients with upper and lower motor neuron injury. This technique would seem to offer greater clinical application in areas of bladder dysfunction and evaluation of drugs on the bladder.

Purinergic innervation of the guinea-pig urinary bladder

1 A number of criteria for considering adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) as a neurotransmitter in the guinea-pig urinary bladder have been examined. In addition, the effect of tachyphylaxis to ATP on the response to non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve stimulation has been re-examined.2 Quinacrine fluorescence histochemistry revealed a population of nerve fibres, ganglion cells, and nerve bundles in the bladder which were not seen in either the iris or vas deferens, where adrenergic and cholinergic nerves predominate. The distribution and morphology of the quinacrine-positive nerves in the bladder were different from those observed with catecholamine fluorescence and cholinesterase histochemistry, and were unaffected by chemical sympathectomy.3 Release of ATP from the bladder during stimulation of intramural excitatory nerves, in the presence of atropine and guanethidine increased to 3-12 times prestimulation levels. Tetrodotoxin abolished both the contractile response and the increase in ATP release resulting from intramural nerve stimulation. There was no increase in ATP release during contraction resulting from direct muscle stimulation following nerve paralysis with tetrodotoxin.4 Sympathectomy with 6-hydroxydopamine did not affect release of ATP in response to intramural nerve stimulation.5 Release of ATP was dependent on the concentration of calcium ion in the medium.6 Contractions in response to non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic intramural nerve stimulation were closely mimicked by ATP, but not by acetylcholine or histamine.7 Adenosine and dipyridamole reduced the contractions to both ATP and non-cholinergic nerve stimulation.8 2-2'-Pyridylisatogen was not a specific blocker of either ATP or intramural nerve stimulation in the guinea-pig bladder. 2-Substituted imidazolines initiated spontaneous activity making it impossible to assess any blocking action that they may have had.9 Prostaglandins (E(1), E(2) and F(2alpha)) gave weak, slow contractions and an increase in spontaneous activity. Both the response to ATP and non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve stimulation were greatly potentiated in the presence of prostaglandins.10 In the presence of indomethacin the response to non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerve stimulation was virtually abolished following desensitization to ATP.

Choline acetyltransferase activity in the denervated urinary bladder of the rat

After extirpation of the pelvic ganglia the choline acetyltransferase activity decreased markedly indicating that most of the postganglionic cholinergic neurones of the bladder take this route. A small decrease in the activity of this enzyme was found after section of the hypogastric nerve, showing that these nerves contribute to some extent to the cholinergic innervation. The residual enzyme activity found after a combination of the two surgical procedures suggests that neurones relay distal to the level of the section of the hypogastric nerves and pass outside the pelvic ganglia and (or) that neurones pass the pelvic ganglia and relay distal to them. Electrical stimualtion of the hypogastric nerves after extirpation of the pelvic ganglia and the use of blocking drugs showed on the existence of cholinergic neurones passing outside the pelvic ganglia, some of them relaying distal to the point of stimulation.