Characterization of pre- and postjunctional receptors for neurokinins and kinins in the rat vas deferens

Abstract

Neurokinins and kinins are potent stimulants of the rat vas deferens: they increase both the twitch response to electrical stimulation by facilitating transmitter release and the basal tone of the preparation by activating smooth muscle receptors. The two sites of action have been studied separately in the present experiments by using the prostatic for the prejunction site and the epididymal section of the vas deferens for the postjunction site. Receptors for neurokinins, characterized by the order of potency of agonists, appear to be of the NK-A type both at the pre- and postjunction level. Receptors for kinins are present also at both sites and are probably of the B 2 type: they have been characterized by the use of agonists and, the B 2 postjunction type has been convalidated with antagonists. These compounds could not be used for the prejunction receptor characterization, because they act as agonists. Receptor for angiotensin at the prejunction level are of the same type as in the cardiovascular and other systems.