Reorganization of the innervation of the vas deferens after sympathetic decentralization. Kihara, Kazunori, Hidehiro Kakizaki, and William C. De Groat. Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, U.S.A.
APStracts 3:0208R, 1996.
Reorganization of autonomic efferent pathways to the rat vas deferens was noted following chronic (30 days) sympathetic decentralization produced by hypogastric nerve (HGN) transection. In normal rats, electrical stimulation of the HGN elicited an increase in vasal pressure (VP) bilaterally; whereas pelvic nerve (PN) stimulation did not alter VP. However, after unilateral HGN transection, stimulation of the PN on the transected side but not on the normal side increased VP. The decentralized vas in comparison to the normal vas exhibited larger VP responses to stimulation of the contralateral HGN. Following bilateral HGN transection PN-induced VP responses were elicited at lower stimulus intensities than in rats with unilateral transections. PN-induced VP responses were blocked by hexamethonium and prazosin but were not altered by atropine. Distention of the vas lumen occurred following decentralization. PN-induced VP responses were not detectable in extremely distended vas. These data indicate that following degeneration of sympathetic preganglionic axons decentralized adrenergic ganglion cells are reinnervated by parasympathetic or sympathetic preganglionic pathways and that the reinnervation influences vasal function. 

Received 19 March 1996; accepted in final form 30 April 1996.
APS Manuscript Number R173-6.
Article publication pending Am. J. Physiol. (Regulatory Integrative
Comp. Physiology).
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 17 June 96