The effects of pyrogallol and hydroquinone on the response to NANC nerve stimulation in the rat anococcygeus and the bovine retractor penis muscles

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Abstract
1 The effects of pyrogallol and hydroquinone on the bovine retractor penis (BRP) and rat anococcygeus muscles to non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) nerve stimulation have been examined. Both drugs at a concentration of 10−4 m significantly reduced the response in the rat anococcygeus muscle but had no effect in the BRP muscle. 2 The inhibition of the NANC response in the rat anococcygeus muscle by pyrogallol was completely reversed by superoxide dismutase suggesting it was due to the generation of superoxide anions. 3 Pyrogallol inhibited the response to nitric oxide (NO) in the rat anococcygeus muscle but not that to 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IBMX) which confirmed a selective action. 4 These results suggest that the NANC neurotransmitter in the rat anococcygeus muscle is susceptible to superoxide anions and may be NO or a substance that can liberate NO.