Electrical and mechanical events through activation of muscarinic receptor in the smooth muscle of guinea-pig vas deferens

• Published in: Japanese journal of physiology Vol. 34; no. 3; p. 557
• Main Authors: Wakui, M, Fukushi, Y, Inomata, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan 1984
• Subjects: Acetylcholine - pharmacology; Action Potentials - drug effects; Animals; Calcium - pharmacology; Guinea Pigs; Magnesium - pharmacology; Magnesium Chloride; Male; Membrane Potentials - drug effects; Muscle Contraction - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth - drug effects; Muscle, Smooth - physiology; Norepinephrine - pharmacology; Receptors, Muscarinic - drug effects; Receptors, Muscarinic - physiology; Vas Deferens
• ISSN: 0021-521X
• DOI: 10.2170/jjphysiol.34.557

Electrical and mechanical responses of the guinea-pig vas deferens to exogenous acetylcholine (ACh) were observed by means of a single sucrose-gap method. ACh at various concentrations evoked a contraction consisting of two components. The initial component seemed to be independent of a depolarization, while the second one was dependent on it. All ACh responses were abolished by Ca removal from the external solution. The results suggest the existence of a pathway by which ACh even at low concentrations causes a Ca influx without potential changes.