Abstract
The electrical activity of 41 mechanosensitive afferent units was recored using anin vitro preparation of the guinea-pig's ureter. The conduction velocities of these fibres were found to be in the C-fibre range. Only 4 of them responded to contractions of the ureter. The activation threshold of the units to intraluminal (i.l.) pressure varied between 3 and 50 mm Hg. It is concluded that some of these afferent fibres might be involved in the signalling of nociceptive events.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
W. S. Beacham and D. L. Kunze,Renal receptors evoking a spinal vasomotor reflex. J. Physiol.201, 73–85 (1969).
A. H. Bretag,Synthetic interstitial fluid for isolated mammalian tissue. Life Sci.8, 319–329 (1969).
F. Cervero and H. Sann,An in vitro preparation for recording single-unit activity from afferent fibres innervating the guineapig's ureter. J. Physiol. Proc. Bristol Meeting 1988 (in press).
J. S. Dixon and J. A. Gosling,Histochemical and electron microscopic observations on the innervation of the upper segment of the mammalian ureter. J. Anat.110, 57–66 (1971).
A. D. Hoyes,Fine structure and response to capsaicin of primary afferent nociceptive axons in the rat and guinea-pig ureter. InSensory receptor mechanisms. (Eds. W. Hamann and A. Iggo) pp. 25–34, World Scientific Publ. Co., Singapore 1984.
X.-Y. Hua,Tachykinins and calcitonin gene-related peptide in relation to peripheral functions of capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons. Acta Physiol. Scand. Suppl.551, 1–45 (1986).
W. Jänig and J. F. B. Morrison,Functional properties of spinal visceral afferents supplying abdominal and pelvic organs, with special emphasis on visceral nociception. InVisceral Sensation, Progress in brain research, vol. 67 (Eds. F. Cervero and J. F. B. Morrison) pp. 87–114, Elsevier Science Publisher B. V., Amsterdam 1986.
L. Risholm,Studies on renal colic and its treatment by posterior splanchnic block. Acta Chir. Scand. Suppl.184, 1–64 (1954).
H. C. Su, J. Wharton, J. M. Polak, P. K. Mulderry, M. A. Ghatei, S. J. Gibson, G. Terenghi, J. F. B. Morrison, J. Ballesta and S. R. Bloom,Calcitonin gene-related peptide immunoreactivity in afferent neurons supplying the urinary tract: combined retrograde tracing and immunohistochemistry. Neurosci.18, 727–747 (1986).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sann, H., Cervero, F. Afferent innervation of the guinea-pig's ureter. Agents and Actions 25, 243–245 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01965024
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01965024