ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY OF THE GUINEA-PIG SEMINAL VESICLE AND THE EFFECTS OF AUTONOMIC AGENTS IN SITU

Abstract

Studies were made of effects of hypogastric nerve stimulation on the electrical activity of guinea-pig seminal vesicle with extracellular silver microelectrodes in situ. Furthermore, the effects of several autonomic agents were also investigated. Junction potentials with facilitation were observed during repetitive stimulation of the hypogastric nerve, which were affected by intravenous administration of reserpine, bretylium tosylate, guanethidine, hexamethonium and pentolinium. On the other hand, atropine and α-blocking agents had no detectable effects. Intravenous administration of noradrenaline leads to periodic bursts of spike discharges accompanied with the contraction of seminal vesicle. The results suggested that seminal vesicle of guinea-pig may be innervated by hypogastric nerve such fashion as was deferens.