Evidence that dopamine is acting at alpha-adrenoceptors of the rat vas deferens.

In the rat vas deferens, a vast number of experiments have shown that the alpha-adrenoceptors present are of two types: alpha 1 and alpha 2. This series of experiments with the isolated rat vas deferens was designed to probe by pharmacological means, the nature of the responses elicited by neurogenic transmural stimulation and also those responses evoked by exogenous NE and DA. The methodology required the production of chemical denervation, neurotransmitter depletion, and the use of specific adrenoceptor blockers. The results obtained with the blocking agents, yohimbine or prazosin versus NE and DA, were pA2 values that were virtually interchangeable. The effects of chemical alteration with 6-OH-DA or reserpine point to a certain similarity and interdependence of the mechanism of action for the two neurotransmitters. Therefore, it is suggested that these two transmitters act at the same receptor site or share a common receptive microenvironment in the rat vas deferens.