Effects of β-Adrenergic Agonists on the Action Potentials of Canine Pyeloureter

Abstract

Pacemaker control of ureteral peristalsis was first suggested by Bozler (1942), who described action potentials with a slow rising phase recorded from the renal end of isolated canine, feline and guinea pig ureters as possibly representing pacemaker potentials. Later, Kobayashi (1965) and Zawalinski et al. (1975) obtained tracings of spontaneous action potentials with constant discharge intervals from isolated feline and guinea pig renal pelvises and advocated the presence of a pacemaker of ureteral peristalsis in the renal pelvis. Cyclic changes in intrapelvic pressure unrelated to urine volume were recorded from dogs in vivo by Constantinou (1974) who thus inferred them to be reflecting activity of a renal pelvic pacemaker.