INFLUENCE OF CASTRATION UPON THE SEMINAL-VESICLE RESPONSE TO PARASYMPATHOMIMETIC DRUGS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 250  (2) , 204-211
Abstract
The influence of castration upon rat seminal vesicle responses to acetylcholine, carbachol and betanechol was investigated through the determination of the parameters pD2 (the apparent affinity constant), .alpha. (the intrinsic activity) and .rho. (the relative responsiveness) of such drugs on vesicles excised from normal and castrated rats. The pD2 and .alpha. values for carbachol and betanechol and the pD2 value for acetylcholine increased after orchiectomy; the pD2 increase was greater for the first 2 drugs than for acetylcholine. No significant difference in the values of .rho. of the acetylcholine receptor system was obtained after castration. As carbachol and betanechol are not metabolized by cholinesterase, apparently the reported change in cholinesterase activity after castration is not the only factor responsible for the variation in the seminal vesicle pharmacological reactivity. Additional experimentation may be necessary to clarify the mode of action of the drugs in this system.

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