Influence of castration of the neonatal rat on the contractile effects of barium chloride and adrenaline in isolated vas deferens: the role of calcium.

Time-response curves to maximal concentrations of barium chloride (BaCl2) (3 X 10(-2) M) and adrenaline (10(-4) M) were studied in vasa deferentia from 3-month-old rats castrated at birth. Either barium or adrenaline was left in the organ baths for 5-min periods, at intervals of about 30 min, and the corresponding isotonic contractions recorded. Two types of effects were measured: the fade response (Jurkiewicz et al., 1977) and the rate at which responses were reduced after Ca2+ withdrawal from nutrient solution. The fade response for BaCl2 was strikingly greater than that in controls. When calcium was removed from the nutrient solution, an almost complete loss of the response to BaCl2 was achieved in less than 3 min for preparations of 3-day castrates, in about 40 min for the organs of 15-day castrates, and in more than 140 min for normal preparations. Treatment with testosterone, 1 week before the experiments, abolished the fade response to BaCl2 and antagonized the loss of responsiveness observed for this substance in a calcium-deficient solution. These data suggest that the production of testosterone by the testis during the critical period of neonatal differentiation is important for the translocation of calcium ions in the isolated vas deferens of the adult rat.