Abolition of the nerve-induced responses of the isolated vas deferens of the young rat by agents blocking -adrenoceptors.

The mechanical responses of isolated fieldstimulated vasa deferentia from rats 3-10 days old were abolished by low doses of drugs blocking alpha-adrenoceptors. In preparations from older animals this effect was absent or there was a potentiation of the responses. The effect of atropine also changed during postnatal development. In the early period a moderate (10-40%) decline of the nerve-induced responses was generally observed, but later even high concentrations of atropine were without effect.