1. The nerve-mediated contraction of the female rabbit bladder neck and different portions of the urethra (proximal, medial and distal) was studied in vitro by electrical stimulation (50 V, 30 Hz, 0.05 ms width, trains of 5 s every 5 min) by use of a superfusion system. 2. The amplitude (Emax) and the duration (Dmax) of the stimulated contraction were studied in the four tissues. The Emax value was significantly higher in distal urethra (2.07+/-0.15 g) compared to the bladder neck (1.08+/-0.10 g), proximal urethra (0.73+/-0.07 g) and medial urethra (0.87+/-0.07 g). In contrast, the Dmax value appeared slightly but significantly lower (P<0.05) in distal urethra (68.5+/-2.3 s) than in bladder neck (76.7+/-6.0 s), proximal urethra (84.5+/-5.0 s) and medial urethra (81.3+/-3.5 s). 3. Cocaine (1 microM) significantly increased the basal Emax values in medial and distal urethra and the basal Dmax values in the four tissues. 4. Prazosin (1 microM) significantly reduced E max value in proximal, medial and distal urethra and Dmax value in bladder neck and proximal urethra. Atropine (1 microM) also significantly reduced Emax values in bladder neck and proximal urethra and reduced Dmax value in bladder neck, but not in other tissues. Yohimbine (0.1 microM) was devoid of effect in the four tissues. 5. The association of prazosin (1 microM) and atropine (1 microM) did not modify the Emax and the Dmax values of the electrically-induced contractions, except in proximal urethra and in bladder neck where an additive inhibitory effect (on Emax only) was observed compared to prazosin and atropine alone. 6. The residual contractile response after combined treatment with prazosin and atropine was significantly diminished by tetrodotoxin (TTX; 1 microM) but not completely abolished. These NANC contractions were insensitive to P2X-purinoceptor desensitization by continuous tissue perfusion with alpha,beta-methylene ATP (30 microM). 7. These results demonstrate that bladder neck and proximal urethra are mainly innervated by the parasympathetic nervous system, whereas medial and distal urethras are to a greater extent under the control of the sympathetic innervation. The residual responses, insensitive to prazosin and atropine, may indicate a NANC innervation in the four tissues. However, the nature of the NANC neurotransmitter remains to be identified.