The maturation of neuromuscular function in a multiply innervated structure: development of the longitudinal smooth muscle of the foetal mammalian gut and its cholinergic excitatory, adrenergic inhibitory, and non-adrenergic inhibitory innervation

摘要

1. The earliest components of the developing innervation of the rabbit intestine to be detected in this study were the cholinergic excitatory and the intrinsic inhibitory innervation. These developed simultaneously in the rabbit at 17 days of gestation. Both were also present in the mouse by the 16th day of gestation. Responsiveness of rabbit tissue to exogenous acetylcholine appeared together with the advent of a functional cholinergic innervation. Since excitatory responses were potentiated by eserine, the tissue was probably able to inactivate acetylcholine through hydrolysis mediated by cholinesterase. Early relaxant responses resisted blockade by adrenergic neurone blocking agents and by antagonists active at α- and β-adrenoceptors.