Responsiveness of the rat vas deferens to catecholamines and electrical stimulation during an infection with Trypanosoma bruce

Abstract

The effect of an acute infection with Trypano soma brucei on the reactivity of the rat vas deferens to noradrenaline, tyramine, and field stimulation was studied. The vas deferens isolated from infected animals were more responsive to field stimulation than control rat vas deferens. The effect was more noticeable at lower frequencies of stimulation suggesting an increased sympathetic discharge from pre-synaptic nerve endings. Also, both noradrenaline and tyramine were more effective on the infected vas deferens suggesting a postjunctional sensitization of a adrcno captors. These results are explained in terms of the pharmacologically active substances released during an acute infection with T. bruce