A comparative study of spike potentials in response to nerve stimulation in the vas deferens of the mouse, rat and guinea-pig

Abstract

1. 1. The spike potentials initiated by excitatory junction potentials in response to nerve stimulation have been compared for the vasa deferentia of mouse, rat and guinea-pig. 2. 2. The spike potential in the mouse, and probably also in the rat, is graded and does not actively propagate through the tissue. 3. 3. In contrast, the spike potential in the guinea-pig vas deferens is all or none and propagates through the tissue without decrement. 4. 4. The results are discussed in relation to the differences in the density of innervation of the smooth muscle. © 1969.