You have accessJournal of UrologyDiscussed Poster, Tuesday, May 11, 2004, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm1 Apr 20041375: Evidence for a Testis-Vas Deferens 'Sperm Pump' Freddie C. Banks, Gill E. Knight, Rob C. Calvert, Cecil S. Thompson, Dimitri P. Mikhailidis, and Robert J. Morgan Freddie C. BanksFreddie C. Banks More articles by this author , Gill E. KnightGill E. Knight More articles by this author , Rob C. CalvertRob C. Calvert More articles by this author , Cecil S. ThompsonCecil S. Thompson More articles by this author , Dimitri P. MikhailidisDimitri P. Mikhailidis More articles by this author , and Robert J. MorganRobert J. Morgan More articles by this author View All Author Informationhttps://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-5347(18)38600-2AboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints ShareFacebookLinked InTwitterEmail "1375: Evidence for a Testis-Vas Deferens 'Sperm Pump'." The Journal of Urology, 171(4S), p. 362 © 2016 by American Urological AssociationFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 171 Issue 4S April 2004 Page: 362 Advertisement Copyright & Permissions© 2016 by American Urological AssociationMetrics Author Information Freddie C. Banks More articles by this author Gill E. Knight More articles by this author Rob C. Calvert More articles by this author Cecil S. Thompson More articles by this author Dimitri P. Mikhailidis More articles by this author Robert J. Morgan More articles by this author Expand All Advertisement PDF downloadLoading ...

Objective: To examine purinergic signaling in human vas deferens.Design: To study contractile responses of the scrotal vas deferens.Setting: Research department of a university teaching hospital.Patient(s): Undergoing vasectomy or orchidectomy (aged 27-88 years, n = 14). Intervention(s): Vasectomy or orchidectomy.Main Outcome Measure(s): Strips of vas deferens were suspended in an organ bath and subjected to electrical stimulation to establish frequency-response curves. These stimulations were repeated in the presence of pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfoinc acid (PPADS, P2 receptor antagonist), prazosin (adrenergic alpha(1) antagonist), and tetrodotoxin. Concentration-response curves were constructed to noradrenaline and the P2X agonists ATP and alpha,beta-methylene ATP (alpha,beta-meATP). The P2X receptor subtype distribution was assessed by immunohistochemistry using specific antibodies.Result(s): The response at 32 Hz in the presence of PPADS was reduced by 40% and in the presence of prazosin by 80%. Noradrenaline caused concentration-dependent contractions (EC50 = 11.8 mu M). Contractions to ATP and alpha,beta-meATP (EC50 = 6.27 mu M) suggested that the functional receptor was P2X(1) and/or P2X(3). However. immunohistochemistry demonstrated P2X(1), but not P2X(3), receptor immunoreactivity on the smooth muscle cells.Conclusion(s): This study demonstrated that ATP is a co-transmitter with noradrenaline in the contraction of the human vas deferens predominantly acting through the P2X(1) receptor.