The mechanism of action of dicyclomine hydrochloride on rabbit detrusor muscle and vas deferens.

Dicyclomine inhibited responses of rabbit detrusor muscle to transmural stimulation more than atropine or lidocaine, and also inhibited responses to acetylcholine and to KCl. Responses of rabbit vas deferens to noradrenaline and transmural stimulation were inhibited by dicyclomine. Dicyclomine was as potent a local anesthetic as lidocaine, as determined by the guinea-pig wheal test. 45Ca++ exchange in the rabbit detrusor, measured by the lanthanum methods, was not altered by atropine, lidocaine or dicyclomine. It is concluded that dicyclomine not only acts as an anticholinergic agent but also impairs excitation-contraction coupling and release of transmitter from autonomic nerves.