Autonomic innervation of vas deferens after autotransposition. A functional study in the rat

In order to investigate the nerve-mediated response of vas deferens subjected to autotransposition, muscular strips were taken from various segments of rat vas. Electrical field stimulation (EFS) was applied and frequency-response curves were determined. After autotransposition the neural function was preserved, albeit the amplitude of the contractile response to EFS was smaller than in controls. Further, a reduced contractile response was noted in the vas segments proximal, as well as distal, to the transposed segment, probably due to secondary reactions to the surgical trauma. Noradrenaline and ATP seem to act as transmitter substances in the transposed vas segments because the results show a reduction of the contraction after pretreatment with prazosin or chi, beta-methylene ATP. However, the reduction recorded was less pronounced in transposed segments of vas compared with controls, indicating that other transmitter substances may contribute. No difference in contractile response could be seen between segments from fertile rats and segments from infertile animals and it is concluded that factors other than the intrinsic neural response determine fertility after autotransposition of vas.