Opioid-like action of eseroline on micturition reflex in rats

1. Eseroline (3-10 mg/kg s.c.), the first product of metabolic breakdown of eserine (physostigmine) markedly increased bladder capacity and decreased voiding efficiency of reflex micturition in rats. 2. Eserine had an opposite effect on bladder function in vivo, while morphine (1-3 mg/kg s.c.) reproduced the action of eseroline. The effects of eseroline or morphine were prevented by naloxone which per se reduced bladder capacity. 3. In vitro both eserine and eseroline potentiated the cholinergic component of the twitch response to field stimulation of the rat bladder and this effect was atropine-sensitive while morphine had no effect. 4. These findings provide further support to the notion that eseroline possesses both eserine- and opioid-like actions, but this latter predominates in determining its actions on bladder function in vivo.