Effects of oxypertine on the isolated vas deferens of the rat

1 The isolated vas deferens of the rat was used to examine the peripheral action of oxypertine, a psychotropic-anxiolytic drug. 2 Oxypertine (4.4 X 10(-10) M to 2.6 X 10(-5) M) antagonized competitively the effects of noradrenaline (pA2 = 7.2), 5-hydroxytryptamine (pA2 = 8.6) and dopamine (pA2 = 9.8). 3 Oxypertine (8.8 X 10(-9) M to 2.6 X 10(-5) M) antagonized the effects of low concentrations of acetylcholine and enhanced the contractions elicited by high concentrations of acetylcholine. 4 The contractions evoked by transmural stimulation of the vas deferens were reduced by oxypertine. 5 Oxypertine failed to antagonize the responses to potassium chloride. 6 These findings are compared with the effects of other antidepressant drugs.