Skip to main content
Log in

The effect of decentralisation or chronic hypogastric nerve stimulation in vivo on the innervation and responses of the guinea-pig vas deferens

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The physiological, pharmacological and morphological characteristics of guinea-pig vas deferens supplied by hypogastric nerves rendered inactive by decentralisation were compared with those of vas deferens in which the nerve supply had been chronically stimulated for 3–9 days using implanted electrodes. No change was seen in decentralised preparations prior to 7 days, but from 8–15 days, increased sensitivity to application of noradrenaline in vitro was observed, which was shown to be related to reduced transmitter uptake by nerve terminals as well as to an increase in postjunctional sensitivity; there was also increased fatigability 7–14 days following decentralisation. Continuous stimulation of hypogastric nerves at 2 Hz for 4–8 h daily for 4–8 days resulted in enhanced transmitter uptake and reduced responses to noradrenaline; this was associated with a slight increase in noradrenaline content and a faster adrenergic neuromuscular response with a shorter latency. No appreciable changes in nerve or muscle structure studied by electron microscopy were observed following decentralisation, but there was an increase of between 12.5 and 29.6% in the number of close (< 100 nm) neuromuscular junctions following chronic stimulation for 8 days.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Black IB, Mytilineou C (1976) Trans-synaptic regulation of the development of end organ innervation by sympathetic neurones, Brain Res 101:503–521

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bloom EM, Hamill RW, Black IB (1976) Elevation of tyrosine hydroxylase activity in sympathetic neurons after reserpine: the role of the central nervous system. Brain Res 115:525–528

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burnstock G (1981) Current approaches to the development of the autonomie nervous system: clues to clinical problems. In: Elliot K and Lawrenson G (eds) Development of the autonomic nervous system. Ciba Foundation Symposium 83. Pitman Medical, London, pp 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • Burnstock G, Dennison M, Jones R (1978) Chronic stimulation of the hypogastric nerve in the male guinea-pig in vivo. J Physiol (Lond) 276:2–3P

    Google Scholar 

  • Fillenz M, Stanford C (1978) Biochemical changes in sympathetic nerve terminals of coldstressed rat. J Physiol (Lond) 278:27P-28P

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleming WW (1976) Variable sensitivity of excitable cells: possible mechanisms and biological significance. Rev Neurosci 2:43–90

    Google Scholar 

  • Fleming WW (1978) The trophic influence of autonomie nerves on electrical properties of the cell membrane in smooth muscle. Life Sci 22:1223–1228

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Goto K, Masakei T, Saito A, Kasuya Y (1979) Denervation-like supersensitivity in the rat vas deferens induced by local application of colchicine to the hypogastric plexus. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 209:376–381

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huković S (1961) Responses of the isolated nerve ductus deferens preparation of the guinea-pig. Br J Pharmac Chemother 16:188–194

    Google Scholar 

  • Jones R, Yokota R, Burnstock G (1983) The long-term influence of decentralisation or preganglionic hypogastric nerve stimulation in vivo on the reinnervation of minced vas deferens in the guinea-pig. Cell Tissue Res 232:281–293

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–211

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Saito A, Kasuya Y, Goto K (1981) The role of morphological and functional changes in adrenergic nerves for the development of colchicine induced supersensitivity in rat vas deferens. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 217:516–523

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shellenberger M, Gordon JH (1971) A rapid simplified procedure for simultaneous assay or norepinephrine, dopamine and 5-hydroxytryptamine from discrete brain areas. Anal Biochem 39:356–372

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thoenen H, Müller RA, Axelrod J (1969) Trans-synaptic induction of adrenal tyrosine hydroxylase. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 169:249–254

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Trendelenburg V (1963) Supersensitivity and subsensitivity to sympathomimetic amines. Pharmacol Rev 15:225–276

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westfall DP, McClure DC, Fleming WW (1972) The effects of denervation, dencentralization and cocaine on the response of the smooth muscle of the guinea-pig vas deferens to various drugs. J Pharmacol Exp Ther 181:328–338

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zigmond R, Chalazonitis A (1979) Long-term effects of preganglionic nerve stimulation on tyrosine hydroxylase activity in rat superior cervical ganglion. Brain Res 164:137–152

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jones, R., Dennison, M.E. & Burnstock, G. The effect of decentralisation or chronic hypogastric nerve stimulation in vivo on the innervation and responses of the guinea-pig vas deferens. Cell Tissue Res. 232, 265–279 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213786

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00213786

Key words

Navigation