Responsiveness of the rat vas deferens to catecholamines and electrical stimulation during an infection with Trypanosoma brucei.

The effect of an acute infection with Trypanosoma brucei on the reactivity of the rat vas deferens to noradrenaline, tyramine and field stimulation was studied. The vas deferens isolated from infected animals was more responsive to field stimulation than control rat vas deferens. The effect was more noticeable at lower frequencies of stimulation suggesting an increased sympathetic discharge from presynaptic nerve endings. Also both noradrenaline and tyramine were more effective on the infected vas deferens suggesting a post-junctional sensitization of alpha adrenoceptors. These results are explained in terms of the pharmacologically active substances released during an acute infection with T. brucei.