An oxytocin receptor in anococcygeus muscles isolated from male mice.

The nature of the neurohypophyseal peptide receptor in the anococcygeus muscles from male mice was investigated. The rank order of potency of naturally occurring peptides was oxytocin greater than Arg-vasotocin greater than Arg-vasopressin greater than Lys-vasopressin, which is similar to that found in the uterus and mammary gland. Selective agonists on the oxytocin (OT) receptors of the uterus and mammary gland (Thr4-OT; Gly7-OT; Thr4-Gly7-OT) were also potent agonists in the mouse anococcygeus. Competitive antagonists of uterine responses to oxytocin (dP-TyrMe-Thr4-OT; dP-TyrMe-OT; dP-Thr4-OT; dp-Orn8-OT) were also competitive antagonists of oxytocin-induced contractions of the mouse anococcygeus. It is concluded that the neurohypophyseal peptide receptor of the male mouse anococcygeus is of the oxytocin type; antagonist pA2 values suggest that this receptor resembles, but may not be identical to, the uterine oxytocin receptor. Possible physiological and pharmacological implications of these observations are discussed.