The activity of post-ganglionic sympathetic nerves to the uterus of the rabbit.

Abstract

1. The spontaneous activity recorded from the central ends of the uterine nerves of the rabbit is described. The discharges resembled those reported from other post-ganglionic sympathetic nerves; the individual units appeared to discharge remarkably regularly at frequencies between 4/sec and 1 per 3 sec.2. The resting discharge in late pregnant rabbits was usually more intense than in non-pregnant rabbits; otherwise no clear relation existed between variations in the discharges and in the sexual state.3. The discharge was reduced by stimulation of the central end of the depressor nerve and increased by asphyxia.4. Stimulation of either the preganglionic or the post-ganglionic nerve by a single shock evoked a long after-discharge in the post-ganglionic nerve. It is shown that this after-discharge is a property of some of the post-ganglionic neurones supplying the rabbit's uterus which does not depend on the integrity of the preganglionic nerves or of the spinal cord, or on transmission through the ganglia, and that it is not a general property of the sympathetic post-ganglionic neurones of the rabbit.5. Repetitive stimulation of the preganglionic nerve at low frequencies augmented the after-discharge in some cases and depressed it in others; stimulation at high frequencies invariably depressed the after-discharge. Repetitive stimulation of the post-ganglionic nerve at low or high frequencies depressed the after-discharge.6. If the normal preganglionic activity was interrupted abruptly by an anode block, the post-ganglionic discharge also stopped abruptly.7. A ganglion-stimulating action of hexamethonium is described.8. Adrenaline inhibited the post-ganglionic neurones with no sign of excitation. This effect was antagonized by Rogitine without affecting the resting discharge, the action of the depressor nerve or the after-discharge in any way.