[Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief - Likert format: Factor structure analysis in general population in France]. / Analyse de la structure factorielle de la version brève du questionnaire de personnalité schizotypique (SPQ-B) ­ format Likert ­ en population générale en France.

INTRODUCTION: The main objective of the study was to explore the factorial structure of the French version of the Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire-Brief (SPQ-B) in a Likert format, in a representative sample of the general population. In addition, differences in the dimensional scores of schizotypy according to gender and age were analyzed. As the study in the general population of schizotypal traits and its determinants has been recently proposed as a way toward the understanding of aetiology and pathophysiology of schizophrenia, consistent self-report tools are crucial to measure psychometric schizotypy. A shorter version of the widely used Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ-Brief) has been extensively investigated in different countries, particularly in samples of students or clinical adolescents, and more recently, a few studies used a Likert-type scale format which allows partial endorsement of items and reduces the risk of defensive answers. METHOD: A sample of 233 subjects representative of the adult population from an urban area near Paris (Créteil) was recruited using the "itinerary method". They completed the French version of the SPQ-B with a 5-point Likert-type response format (1=completely disagree; 5=completely agree). We examined the dimensional structure of the French version of the SPQ-B with a Principal Components Analysis (PCA) followed by a promax rotation. Factor selection was based on Eigenvalues over 1.0 (Kaiser's criterion), Cattell's Scree-plot test, and interpretability of the factors. Items with loadings greater than 0.4 were retained for each dimension. The internal consistency estimate of the dimensions was calculated with Cronbach's α. In order to study the influence of age and gender, we carried out a simple linear regression with the subscales as dependent variables. RESULTS: Our sample was composed of 131 women (mean age=52.5±18.2 years) and 102 men (mean age=53±18.1 years). SPQ-B Likert total scores ranged from 22 to 84 points (mean=43.6±13). Factor analysis resulted in a 3-factor solution that explained 47.7% of the variance. Factor 1 (disorganized; 10 items) included items related to "odd behavior", "odd speech", as well as "social anxiety", one item of "constricted affect" and one item of "ideas of reference". Factor 2 (interpersonal; 7 items) included items related to "no close friends", "constricted affect", and three of the items of "suspiciousness". Factor 3 (cognitive-perceptual; 5 items) included items related to "ideas of reference", "magical thinking", "unusual perceptual experiences" and one item of "suspiciousness". Coefficient α for the three subscales and total scale were respectively 0.81, 0.81, 0.77 and 0.88. We found no differences in total schizotypy and the three dimensions scores according to age and sex. CONCLUSION: Factor analysis of the French version of the SPQ-B in a Likert format confirmed the three-factor structure of schizotypy. We found a pure cognitive perceptual dimension including the most representative positive features. As expected, "Suspiciousness" subscale is included in both positive and negative dimensions, but mainly in the negative dimension. Surprisingly, "social anxiety" subscale is included in the disorganized dimension in our analysis. The SPQ-B in a Likert format demonstrated good internal reliability for both total and subscales scores. Unlike previous published results, we did not find any influence of age or gender on schizotypal dimensions.

Multiple births by a captive swellshark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum via facultative parthenogenesis.

Using a novel set of 12 microsatellites, a captive, adult female swellshark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum that produced five pups via parthenogenesis is described; naturally occurring parthenogenesis has been observed in every vertebrate class with the exception of mammals. As demonstrated in this study, a captive environment is ideal for long-term monitoring of animals under controlled conditions, and easily allows the detection of particular facets of their biology.

Beta2-adrenoceptor-mediated prejunctional facilitation and postjunctional inhibition of sympathetic neuroeffector transmission in the guinea pig vas deferens.

This study examines the role of prejunctional and postjunctional beta-adrenoceptors in the modulation of sympathetic cotransmission in the guinea pig vas deferens. The prejunctional involvement of beta-adrenoceptors was evaluated by testing the effects of several agonists and antagonists on the nerve stimulation-evoked overflow of ATP and norepinephrine (NE) from the "in vitro" vas deferens. The nonsubtype-selective beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoproterenol and the beta2-subtype-selective agonist clenbuterol increased, to a similar degree, the overflow of ATP and NE, while the beta1-subtype-selective agonist xamoterol and the beta3-subtype-selective agonist BRL 37 344 had no effect. Pretreatment with ICI 118, 551, a beta2-subtype-selective antagonist, abolished the facilitation of cotransmitter release by isoproterenol and clenbuterol, while the beta1-subtype-selective antagonist atenolol had no effect. Activation of beta-adrenoceptors by either isoproterenol or clenbuterol, but not by xamoterol and BRL 37 344, reduced the amplitude of contractions evoked by exogenously applied ATP. Pretreatment with propranolol or ICI 118, 551, but not atenolol, prevented these inhibitory effects. Isoproterenol in lower concentrations produced dose-dependent reduction of the purinergic but not the adrenergic phase of nerve stimulation-induced contraction of the guinea pig vas deferens. When applied in concentrations greater than 1 microM, isoproterenol, but not clenbuterol, actually produced a concentration-dependent facilitation of contractions evoked by both nerve stimulation and exogenously applied ATP. Antagonists of alpha-adrenoceptors blocked these facilitatory effects. Together, these results demonstrate that beta2-adrenoceptors can influence sympathetic neuroeffector transmission both prejunctionally, where they facilitate equally well the release of sympathetic cotransmitters and postjunctionally, where they inhibit smooth muscle contractions evoked by ATP.

Correlation between the release of the sympathetic neurotransmitter ATP and soluble nucleotidases from the guinea pig vas deferens.

Recently, we have shown that by releasing specific nucleotidases the sympathetic nerves of the guinea pig vas deferens may regulate the metabolism of extracellular adenine nucleotides and consequently, the inactivation of neurotransmitter ATP. Based on the evidence for tetrodotoxin sensitivity and calcium dependence of the nerve stimulation-evoked overflow of enzyme activity, we have suggested that soluble nucleotidases may be stored in synaptic vesicles within the sympathetic nerves and released upon arrival of nerve action potentials by a mechanism similar to that for release of neurotransmitters. To further test this hypothesis we studied the time course of nerve stimulation-evoked overflow of ATP, norepinephrine (NE), releasable ATPase (r-ATPase) activity, and releasable AMPase (r-AMPase) activity under control conditions and in the presence of drugs known to selectively modulate sympathetic neurotransmission. The results show that the time course of overflow of r-ATPase and r-AMPase activities resembles the transient pattern of overflow of ATP but not the tonic pattern of overflow of NE. Vasa deferentia dissected from animals treated with reserpine release ATP, r-ATPase, and r-AMPase, whereas the overflow of NE is completely abolished. Guanethidine, on the other hand, inhibits equally well the overflow of the two neurotransmitters and the releasable nucleotidase activities. Agonists of the alpha(2)-adrenergic receptors abolish the overflow of ATP, r- ATPase, and r-AMPase but not the overflow of NE. This evidence supports the idea that the sympathetic nerves of the guinea pig vas deferens store and release ATP together with specific nucleotidases responsible for the inactivation of this neurotransmitter.

The effect of P2 receptor antagonists and ATPase inhibition on sympathetic purinergic neurotransmission in the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens.

1. Intracellular microelectrodes were used to record the transmembrane potential and excitatory junction potentials (e.j.p.s) produced by sympathetic nerve stimulation (1 Hz) in smooth muscle cells of the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens. 2. The symmetrical 3'-urea of 8-(benzamido)naphthalene-1,3,5-trisulphonic acid (NF023) produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of e.j.p. magnitude (IC(50)=4. 8x10(-6) M), but had no effect on the resting membrane potential of the smooth muscle cells. 3. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P) also depressed e.j.p. magnitude in a concentration-dependent manner, but was less potent than NF023 (IC(50)=2.2x10(-5) M). At 10(-4) M and above P-5-P significantly depolarized the smooth muscle cells. 4. The nucleoside triphosphatase inhibitor 6-N,N-diethyl-D-beta, gamma-dibromomethyleneATP (ARL 67156) (5x10(-5) M) significantly increased e.j.p. amplitude. ARL 67156 (10(-4) M) further increased e. j.p. amplitude such that they often reached threshold for initiation of action potentials, causing muscle contraction and expulsion of the recording electrode. 5. After reduction of e.j.p.s by NF023 or P-5-P (both 10(-5) M), subsequent co-addition of ARL 67156 (10(-4) M) significantly increased their magnitude. 6. The overflow of endogenous ATP evoked by field stimulation of sympathetic nerves (8 Hz, 1 min) was measured by HPLC and flurometric detection. ARL 67156 (10(-4) M) enhanced ATP overflow by almost 700% compared to control. 7. We conclude that for electrophysiological studies NF023 is preferable to other P2X receptor antagonists such as pyridoxalphosphate -6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS), suramin or P-5-P. Furthermore, breakdown of endogenous ATP by nucleoside triphosphatases is an important modulator of purinergic neurotransmission in the guinea-pig vas deferens.

Modulation of purinergic neurotransmission.

During the past 25 years ATP has become accepted as an important neurotransmitter at a wide variety of neuroeffector junctions, usually acting as a cotransmitter with NA, ACh, nitric oxide or a neuropeptide such as NPY or VIP. The details of the storage and release of ATP with its cotransmitters has yet to be resolved. However, recent studies indicate that there is more than one population of storage vesicles in the nerves, since the release of the various cotransmitters varies over time and can be differentially modulated by drugs. The subclassification of P2 receptors has advanced dramatically in the past few years due to the use of molecular biology methods allowing the cloning and expression of 14 different subclasses of P2 receptors, seven P2X and seven P2Y. Determination of the functional significance of the various receptor subtypes would be helped by the development of selective agonists and antagonists. The neurotransmitter action of ATP at visceral and vascular smooth muscle P2X receptors has been elucidated in considerable detail. ATP induces a transient inward current via ligand-gated channels, which produces EJPs, action potentials and a phasic contraction of the effector tissue. ATP's neurotransmitter actions appear to be curtailed by the action of ATPases. It has been assumed that this ATPase activity is due to membrane bound ecto-ATPases on the surface of the effector tissue, however, the recently identified soluble ATPase released during nerve stimulation could also be involved in inactivation of ATP. The relative importance of ecto-ATPase and the releasable ATPase is yet to be determined.

Differential cotransmission in sympathetic nerves: role of frequency of stimulation and prejunctional autoreceptors.

Recent reports have suggested that sympathetic nerves may store separately and release independently the cotransmitters ATP and norepinephrine (NE). It is conceivable therefore that the quantity of each neurotransmitter that is released from the nerves is not fixed but rather may vary, possibly with the frequency of stimulation. To test this hypothesis we studied the concomitant release at various frequencies and cooperative postjunctional actions of ATP and NE during the first 10 s of electrical field stimulation of the guinea pig vas deferens. We found that at lower frequencies (8 Hz), prejunctional inhibition of the release of NE, which occurs via alpha2-adrenoceptors, modulates the ultimate composition of the cocktail of cotransmitters by limiting the amount of NE that is coreleased with ATP. As the frequency of stimulation increases (above 8 Hz), the autoinhibition of the release of NE is overridden and the amount of NE relative to ATP increases. The smooth muscle of the guinea pig vas deferens reacts to changes in composition of the sympathetic neurochemical messages by increasing the amplitude of its contractions due to the enhancement by NE of the contractile responses triggered by ATP. This evidence suggests that the prejunctional alpha2-adrenoceptor may function as a sensor that "reads" the frequency of action potentials produced during a burst of neuronal activity and converts that information into discrete neurochemical messages with varying proportions of cotransmitters. The mechanism for decoding the informational content of these messages is based on the cooperative postjunctional interactions of the participating cotransmitters.

Neuronal release of soluble nucleotidases and their role in neurotransmitter inactivation.

Efficient control of synaptic transmission requires a rapid mechanism for terminating the actions of neurotransmitters. For amino acids and monoamines, this is achieved by their uptake into the cell by specific high-affinity transporters; acetylcholine is first broken down in the extracellular space and then choline is taken up by the cell. Because ATP is hydrolysed to adenosine by membrane-bound enzymes (ectonucleotidases) that are present in most tissues, it has been assumed that these enzymes terminate the neurotransmitter actions of ATP in the brain and in the periphery. We show here, however, that stimulation of sympathetic nerves innervating the guinea-pig vas deferens releases not only neuronal ATP, but also soluble nucleotidases that break down this ATP to adenosine, indicating that inactivation of ATP is increased by nerve activity. This release of specific nucleotidases together with ATP represents a new mechanism for terminating the actions of a neurotransmitter.

Differences between the regulation of noradrenaline and ATP release.

1. We have studied the effects of adrenergic receptor agonists and antagonists and various calcium channel antagonists on the overflow of adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP), adenosine (ADO) and noradrenaline (NA) from superfused guinea-pig vasa deferentia evoked by electrical field stimulation (EFS). 2. Samples of superfusate were taken at 10 s intervals for analysis of purines (HPLC with fluorescence detection) and of NA (HPLC with electrochemical detection). During 1 min of EFS the overflow of ATP peaked at about 20 s and then abruptly decreased even though stimulation continued. The overflow of NA reached a peak at about 40 s and remained at a constant level for the duration of the stimulation. 3. Pretreatment with the alpha 2-receptor antagonists idazoxan and yohimbine produced a substantial increase in the overflow of NA and a lesser increase in the overflow of ATP, indicating that endogenously released NA has a greater influence on its own release than on that of ATP. Interestingly, certain alpha 2-agonists. e.g. xylazine and clonidine, produce a greater reduction in ATP release than NA. Together the results suggest that the release of ATP and NA may be regulated by different subsets of prejunctional alpha 2-receptors. 4. The N-type calcium channel antagonist omega-conotoxin reduced the EFS-evoked release of NA to a greater extent than ATP while the P-type calcium channel antagonist omega-agatoxin did the reverse. These results indicate that NA release may be more dependent on calcium influx through N-type channels whereas ATP release is coupled to calcium entry through P-type channels. 5. These differences in the pharmacological regulation of ATP and NA release lend credence to the idea that these two co-transmitters originate from different release sites in adrenergic nerves.

Evidence for the differential release of the cotransmitters ATP and noradrenaline from sympathetic nerves of the guinea-pig vas deferens.

1. Experiments were carried out to quantify the stimulation-evoked overflow of catecholamines and purines (ATP, ADP, AMP and adenosine) from an in vitro sympathetic nerve-smooth muscle preparation of the guinea-pig vas deferens and from isolated bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. The superfused preparations were stimulated for 60 s with electrical field stimulation (EFS; vas deferens), dimethylphenylpiperazinium (chromaffin cells) or KCl (both preparations). 2. Samples of superfusate were taken at 10 s intervals during the 60 s stimulation period for analysis of purines by HPLC-fluorescence detection and catecholamines by HPLC-electrochemical detection. 3. The evoked overflow of catecholamines and purines from chromaffin cells occurred with the same time course and in a constant ratio of approximately 4:1 (catecholamine to purine). These findings are compatible with the release of catecholamines and purines from a homogeneous population of exocytotic vesicles in the chromaffin cells. 4. The evoked overflow of purines and noradrenaline (NA) from the vas deferens preparation differed from the pattern of overflow from chromaffin cells and there was also some temporal disparity in the overflow of the two cotransmitters. The evoked overflow of ATP exceeded that of NA. In addition, the overflow of NA was tonic while the overflow of ATP and the other purines was phasic. 5. The EFS-evoked overflow of NA and the purines from the guniea-pig vas deferens preparation was examined after treatment with the neuronal amine-uptake inhibitors desipramine and cocaine, the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine, the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin, the alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonists idazoxan and yohimbine, the noradrenaline-depleting drug reserpine and the adrenergic neuron-blocking agent guanethidine. The results of these studies, together with an analysis of the metabolic degradation of extracellular ATP, indicated that the temporal disparity in the overflow of NA and ATP is unlikely to be due to differences in the clearance of the cotransmitters or to the release of purines from non-neuronal sites. These results indicate that evoked overflow of the cotransmitters accurately reflects release from nerves. This pattern of release from nerves suggests that the two cotransmitters are released from two separate populations of exocytotic vesicles. 6. Superfusion of the vas deferens with exogenous epsilon-ATP, a fluorescent derivative of ATP, revealed that there was essentially no metabolism of the nucleotide over 60 s unless the tissue was subjected to EFS. Upon EFS, there was a rapid and nearly complete degradation of ATP with a corresponding increase in ADP, AMP and adenosine. This indicates the presence of a nerve stimulation-dependent metabolism of ATP.

Direct measurement of the release of ATP and its major metabolites from the nerve fibres of the guinea-pig taenia coli.

1. The release of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate and adenosine from guinea-pig taenia coli in response to electrical stimulation of intramural nerves was measured directly using high performance liquid chromatography separation and fluorometric detection. 2. Purines were released in a frequency-dependent manner by trains of transmural electrical pulses at 1-30 Hz. 3. Electrically evoked release of ATP was abolished by tetrodotoxin (10(-6)mol/L) but was not affected by nicardipine (10(-6)mol/L). 4. The release of purines was reduced in the presence of atropine. 5. Pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating peptide did not evoke the release of any purines and did not modify the electrically evoked release of purines. 6. The results suggest that ATP and its major metabolites are released from a neuronal source, possibly the enteric inhibitory nerves, in the guinea-pig taenia coli.

Inhibitory and facilitatory effects of purines on transmitter release from sympathetic nerves.

The effects of several purinoceptor agonists and antagonists on norepinephrine overflow were examined in the electrically field stimulated vas deferens and saphenous artery of the rabbit. Both the adenine nucleotides ATP and beta,gamma-methylene ATP and the adenine nucleosides adenosine and 2-chloroadenosine reduced the electrical field stimulation-evoked release of norepinephrine from the in vitro vas deferens. These responses are antagonized by both 8-(p-sulfophenyl)-theophylline and alpha,beta-methylene ATP, indicating that this effect is mediated by P3-receptors. Interestingly, the nucleotide and nucleoside agonists facilitated, rather than inhibited, the electrical field stimulation-evoked release of norepinephrine from the in vitro perfused saphenous artery. This facilitation was antagonized by 8-(p-sulfophenyl)-theophylline but not by alpha,beta-methylene ATP. These results indicate that there may be facilitatory prejunctional purinoceptors that exhibit structure-activity relationships similar to, but perhaps not identical to, those exhibited by inhibitory prejunctional purinoceptors.

[Gastrointestinal sphincters--pharmacologic viewpoints]. / Gastrointestinale Sphinkteren--pharmakologische Gesichtspunkte.

Bearing in mind the specificity of the functions of the gastrointestinal sphincters (GIS), we studied the responses of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), the pyloric sphincter (PS), the ileocecal sphincter (ICS) and the internal anal sphincter (IAS) to noradrenaline (NA), acetylcholine (ACh), PGE1, PGF2 alpha and the peptide bombesin (B). The electrical and contractile activities as well as the response to field electrical stimulation (FES) were recorded. All sphincters except for PS responded to NA with depolarization and contractions. ACh at concentrations higher than 5 x 10(-6)M elicited a biphasic response from LES: depolarization followed by hyperpolarization and respectively contractions and relaxation. At concentrations higher than 10(-6)M ACh produced hyperpolarization and relaxation in IAS. Data were obtained about the modulating role of presynaptic N-cholinoreceptors in the release of a non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory neurotransmitter leading to hyperpolarization and relaxation in LES and IAS under the effect of exogenous ACh. PGE1 and PGF2 alpha increased the tone and decreased the FES-induced relaxation in LES. In PS PGE1 evoked relaxation and completely inhibited the response to FES. The pharmacological analysis showed that PGs modulated not only the adrenergic and cholinergic but also the NANC neurotransmission. Evidence is presented concerning the role of bombesin in the adrenergic, cholinergic, and NANC neurotransmission in LES.

Prejunctional nicotinic receptors involved in facilitation of stimulation-evoked noradrenaline release from the vas deferens of the guinea-pig.

In guinea-pig prostatic vas deferens loaded with [3H]-noradrenaline ([3H]-NA), nicotinic receptor agonists, nicotine and dimethylphenylpiperazinium (DMPP) enhanced the resting and facilitated the stimulation-evoked release of [3H]-NA in a concentration-dependent fashion. The effect of nicotine on both contraction of vas deferens and release of NA in response to field stimulation was stereospecific in favour of the naturally occurring (-)-enantiomer. Prolonged (15 min) exposure to (-)-nicotine resulted in a cessation of the facilitatory effect on NA release and on responses of the vas deferens to field stimulation. 2 The rank order of agonist potency in facilitating NA release was DMPP = (-)-nicotine greater than (+)-nicotine. Cytisine had no agonistic activity. The dissociation constants (KD) of antagonists were 9.3 +/- 0.6 and 31.4 +/- 2.4 microM for (+)-tubocurarine and hexamethonium, respectively, when (-)-nicotine was used as agonist. alpha-Bungarotoxin had no antagonistic activity. These findings suggest that nicotinic receptors located on noradrenergic axon terminals are different from those located postsynaptically in striated muscle or ganglia but seem similar to those present on cholinergic axon terminals at the neuromuscular junction. 3. Cotinine, the breakdown product of nicotine failed to have any agonistic activity indicating that nicotine itself is responsible for the effects observed on axon terminals. 4 Stimulation of presynaptic muscarinic receptors by oxotremorine prevented the nicotine-induced facilitation of [3H]-NA release, indicating the presence of both inhibitory muscarinic and facilitatory nicotinic receptors on noradrenergic axon terminals.

Neurotransmitter interactions in smooth muscles from cat internal anal sphincter (in vitro experiments).

The contractile activity of strips (15 X 2 mm) isolated from cat internal anal sphincter (IAS) has been studied under isometric conditions. Noradrenaline (above 10(-10) mol/l) induces contraction of IAS, antagonized by phentolamine. Isoprenaline (10(-8)-10(-5) mol/l) has no effect on IAS. Acetylcholine and carbachol (above 10(-6) mol/l) result in relaxation of the IAS preparations, which is blocked only by simultaneous administration of atropin (10(-6) mol/l) and hexamethonium (10(-4) mol/l). The acetylcholine-induced relaxation is not influenced by guanetidine and reserpine, but it is antagonized by tetrodotoxin (TTX) (10(-7) g/ml). Nicotine (10(-6)-10(-4) mol/l) also causes IAS relaxation which is not influenced by atropin, being blocked by hexamethonium and antagonized by TTX. The IAS relaxation induced by acetylcholine and nicotine is not associated with adrenergic mechanisms; it is assumed to be the result of a release of noncholinergic, nonadrenergic inhibitory neurotransmitter by means of presynaptic postganglionic cholinergic receptors. Data are also presented concerning the release of noradrenaline through presynaptic N-cholinergic receptors, when nicotine and high acetylcholine concentrations are applied after treatment of the preparations with scorpion venom or after increasing the K+-concentration in the nutrient solution to 16-20 mmol/l. The complex neurotransmitter interactions at IAS level are discussed.

Modulation of the release of noradrenaline and of noncholinergic, nonadrenergic inhibitory neurotransmitter through presynaptic N-cholinergic receptors by means of depolarizing agents in cat internal anal sphincter.

The contractile activity of smooth-muscle strips (15 X 2 mm), isolated from the internal anal sphincter [IAS] of chloralose-anaesthesized cats, was recorded under isometric conditions. The relaxation effects of exogenously applied acetylcholine (Ach) and nicotine (Ns on cat IAS turn into contractile after treatment of the preparations with depolarizing agent (increased [K+]0 scorpion venom, ouabaine). These contractile effects are blocked completely by phentolamine, guanetidine, hexamethonium and they are antagonized by TTX. Relatively high N concentrations induce a three-phase effect whose second contractile component is phentolamine- and guanethidine-sensitive. Field electrical stimulation (FES - 0.7-20 Hz, 0.1 ms, 40 V, duration 15 s) induces biphasic response in IAS: initial contraction which increases after an increase in [K+]0 and is blocked by phentolamine and guanethidine, with subsequent relaxation which is not affected by adrenergic and cholinergic blockers. The effects of FES are TTX-sensitive. The article discusses the problem of the release of noncholinergic nonadrenergic inhibitory neurotransmitter and of noradrenaline by means of presynaptic N-cholinergic receptors. It is assumed that the correlation in which the two transmitters are released depends on the different threshold value of the membrane potential of the nerve terminals, whereby excitatory-secretion coupling takes place.

[Physical and physiological bases of rheography of the gastrointestinal tract]. / Vurkhu fiziko-fiziologichnite osnovi na reografiiata na stomashno-chrevniia trakt.

In vitro experiments have shown that two kinds of factors are involved in the mechanism, by which the rheogram of the contractile activity of the gastro-intestinal organs is obtained: changes in the geometric parameters of the organ and its wall, on the one hand, and variations in tissue conduction, displayed during the contraction cycle in the smooth muscle, on the other.