Actions of some autonomic drugs on spontaneous contractions of isolated dog ureter.

Effects of some autonomic drugs on the isolated dog ureteral preparations showing spontaneous contractions were investigated quantitatively. Noradrenaline, adrenaline and phenylephrine produced increases in frequency and tension of the contractions which were reversed to decreases or depressed by phentolamine. Isoproterenol abolished the spontaneous contractions. Acetylcholine did not significantly change frequency and tension of the contractions. The results indicate that ureteral spontaneous contractions may be enhanced through an activation of alpha-adrenoceptors and be attenuated through an activation of beta-adrenoceptors. However, acetylcholine will not display an important role on the ureteral contractions.