Effect of norepinephrine and isoproterenol on in vitro detrusor muscle contractility and cyclic AMP content.

Norepinephrine, isoproterenol, and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor, theophylline, caused relaxation of in vitro dog detrusor strips associated with significant increases in detrusor cyclic AMP content. Bethanechol-induced detrusor contractions and alpha-adrenergic detrusor contractile responses to norepinephrine after propranolol were not associated with changes in cyclic AMP. Cyclic nucleotide metabolic pathways exist in detrusor muscle and offer another investigative approach to bladder dysfunction.