Participation of protein synthesis in development of supersensitivity in cultured rat vas deferens

Organ culture of rat vas deferens produced supersensitivity to norepinephrine and acetylcholine in contractile response without change in alpha 1-adrenergic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. The development of supersensitivity was inhibited by low temperature and protein synthesis inhibitors. However, protein synthesis inhibitor had no significant effect on the receptors. These findings suggested that the supersensitivity may be induced by synthesis of protein(s) which have a stimulatory effect in a process(es) after activation of receptor to contraction.