The Effect of Continuous Darkness and Continuous Light on the Reactivity of Smooth Muscles to Drugs in the Rat Vas Deferens

Abstract

Background: The vasoconstricting agents: nor-adrenaline and 5- hydroxytryptamine
(5-HT) have a stimulant action on smooth muscle contractility of the rat vas deferens.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of exposure to continuous
darkness and continuous light on the contractility of the vasa deferntia smooth
muscles from rats to applied nor-adrenaline and 5-HT.
Method: Male albino wistar rats were divided into 3 experimental groups. Group 1:
Control animals, were exposed to the ordinary photoperiod each day. Group 2: Rats
were kept in a dark room. Group 3: In a room under a bright artificial light.
All animals were killed after 4 weeks.
Results: Vasa deferentia preparations from continuous dark group of rats exhibited a
reduced reactivity with a significant lower maximal response to 5-HT than those from
control rats. The maximal response in the control vasa deferentia preparations were
nearly doubled compared with that of the continuous dark preparation where as they
responded to exogenous nor-adrenaline with no significant difference from those of
continuous dark animals. Vasa deferentia of continuous light animals responded with
decreased reactivity and a smaller maximal response to both vasoconstrictors
compared with that of control animals.
Conclusion: It is concluded that changes in the rhythm of the photoperiod have
considerable effects on the reactivity of the vasa deferentia smooth muscle from rats
to applied nor-adrenaline and 5-HT