Presynaptic, muscarinic inhibition of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neuromuscular transmission in the chicken rectum.

Cholinergic inhibition of the non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic ( NANC ) transmission was investigated in the chicken isolated rectum with Remak's nerve attached. Stimulation of Remak's nerve (RT stimulation) at frequencies higher than 5 Hz elicited a late, slow contraction of the rectum in addition to an initial, fast NANC contraction. The late, slow contraction was blocked by atropine (0.25 microgram ml-1), potentiated by physostigmine (50 ng ml-1) and accompanied by an overflow of acetylcholine into the vascular perfusate, indicating the existence of cholinergic innervation to the rectum via Remak's nerve. RT stimulation (10 pulses at 0.5-1.0 Hz) elicited NANC -mediated excitatory junction potentials (e.j.ps). The e.j.p. amplitude declined at the second stimulus and then increased to reach a plateau. Atropine, by abolishing this decrease in amplitude, increased the mean amplitude of the e.j.ps during trains of stimuli but atropine did not affect the amplitude of the first e.j.p. Physostigmine reduced the mean e.j.p. amplitude, and this action was readily antagonized by atropine. A single intramural nerve stimulation delivered 2s or less before RT stimulation with trains of stimuli, suppressed the amplitude of the first e.j.p. of the train. This effect was abolished by atropine. Atropine in concentrations high enough to affect the e.j.p. amplitude had no effect on the resting membrane potential, the threshold for generating an action potential, or membrane resistance of the smooth muscle. It is concluded that RT stimulation at low frequencies causes the release of acetylcholine simultaneously with the NANC transmitter. The released acetylcholine acts mainly on prejunctional muscarinic receptors and mediates an inhibitory effect on the release of the NANC transmitter.