An analysis of the transmission of excitation from autonomic nerves to smooth muscle. 1966

M R Bennett, and N C Merrillees

1. An analysis has been made of the transmission of excitation from the hypogastric nerve to the smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig vas deferens.2. Depolarization of single muscle cells with current pulses from an intracellular electrode gave local depolarizations of the cell membrane which were not propagated. The total membrane resistance after 100 msec of depolarization was 15 MOmega for depolarizations between 10 and 40 mV.3. Depolarization of some cell membranes with a current pulse during the excitatory junction potential (E.J.P.) decreased the amplitude of the E.J.P. from about 10 mV at 20 mV depolarization, to nearly zero at 60 mV depolarization. In some cells the E.J.P. was unchanged during depolarizations of 50 mV.4. The action of transmitter on the smooth muscle cell membrane continued for the duration of the E.J.P. Action potentials which occurred at various times during the E.J.P. failed to remove the remaining phases of the E.J.P.5. It was shown that the slow time course of the E.J.P. could not be due to the instantaneous and simultaneous release of transmitter from a number of relatively distant sources.6. It was shown that each smooth muscle cell was innervated by several axons. The serial sections examined with the electron microscope showed that a smooth muscle had either a single axon terminating within 200 A of the muscle or no axons terminating on it at all. Therefore transmitter must be released along the length of the axons as well as at the terminations of the axons.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007001 Hypogastric Plexus A complex network of nerve fibers in the pelvic region. The hypogastric plexus distributes sympathetic fibers from the lumbar paravertebral ganglia and the aortic plexus, parasympathetic fibers from the pelvic nerve, and visceral afferents. The bilateral pelvic plexus is in its lateral extent. Pelvic Plexus,Plexus, Hypogastric,Plexus, Pelvic
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D009130 Muscle, Smooth Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed) Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D009469 Neuromuscular Junction The synapse between a neuron and a muscle. Myoneural Junction,Nerve-Muscle Preparation,Junction, Myoneural,Junction, Neuromuscular,Junctions, Myoneural,Junctions, Neuromuscular,Myoneural Junctions,Nerve Muscle Preparation,Nerve-Muscle Preparations,Neuromuscular Junctions,Preparation, Nerve-Muscle,Preparations, Nerve-Muscle
D002463 Cell Membrane Permeability A quality of cell membranes which permits the passage of solvents and solutes into and out of cells. Permeability, Cell Membrane
D004594 Electrophysiology The study of the generation and behavior of electrical charges in living organisms particularly the nervous system and the effects of electricity on living organisms.
D006168 Guinea Pigs A common name used for the genus Cavia. The most common species is Cavia porcellus which is the domesticated guinea pig used for pets and biomedical research. Cavia,Cavia porcellus,Guinea Pig,Pig, Guinea,Pigs, Guinea
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014649 Vas Deferens The excretory duct of the testes that carries SPERMATOZOA. It rises from the SCROTUM and joins the SEMINAL VESICLES to form the ejaculatory duct. Ductus Deferens,Deferens, Ductus,Deferens, Vas

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