Presynaptic muscarinic receptors mediating inhibition of neurogenic contractions in rabbit vas deferens are of the ganglionic M1-type.

The present study was designed to further characterize the presynaptic muscarinic M1-receptor responsible for the inhibition of neurogenic contractions in the isolated rabbit vas deferens. Electrically induced twitch contractions of this preparation were inhibited by the M1-agonist, McN-A-343, and by some of its analogs: 4-chloro-phenyl derivative greater than McN-A-343 greater than trans-olefinic analog greater than cis-olefinic analog. The same rank order of potency was observed for these agonists to raise the blood pressure of pithed rats by stimulation of M1-receptors in sympathetic ganglia. A highly significant correlation was found between the antimuscarinic potencies of atropine, pirenzepine and a series of 9 antagonists structurally related to the ganglionic M1 beta-receptor selective compounds, hexocyclium and hexahydro-difenidol, to antagonize the McN-A-343-induced inhibition of twitch contractions in rabbit vas deferens or the muscarine-induced depolarization in rat isolated superior cervical ganglia. It is suggested that the presynaptic muscarinic receptor that mediates inhibition of neurogenic contractions in rabbit vas deferens is of the ganglionic M1 beta-type.