The effect of ethanol on rat vas deferens.

The effect of ethanol (3.9-390 mM) on resting tension of vas deferens, isometric contractions produced by field stimulation of the vas deferens and on the contractions produced by neurotransmitters, acetylcholine (ACh 0.55-55 mM), noradrenaline (NA 0.058-580 microM) and 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT 0.25-250 microM) was studied in rat vas deferens to see if ethanol modified neurotransmission and muscle contraction in this preparation. The results showed that ethanol had no significant effect on resting tension of the muscle, but reduced the contractions produced by field stimulation and by neurotransmitters. It was concluded that ethanol modifies neurotransmission in the rat vas deferens preparation, by reducing the contractions produced by field stimulation and by depolarizing agents.