K. Kubota et al., THE INHIBITORY-ACTION OF LEAD ON MECHANICAL RESPONSES OF THE PROVENTRICULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE IN THE CHICK, Japanese Journal of Veterinary Research, 42(3-4), 1994, pp. 109-117
The purpose of the present experiments was to examine the mechanism of
the proventricular dilatation caused by lead in the isolated vagus ne
rve-proventricular smooth muscle preparation of the chick. Lead caused
dose- and time-dependent inhibition of contractions induced by vagal
stimulation, transmural stimulation and externally applied acetylcholi
ne (ACh). Vagally evoked contraction was much more sensitive to the in
hibitory action of lead than the contractile response to ACh. The lowe
r the frequency of transmural stimulation, or the lower the concentrat
ion of ACh was applied, the greater the inhibitory action of lead on t
he evoked smooth muscle contraction. The results suggest that proventr
icular impaction occurring in lead poisoning results from the pre- and
post-synaptic inhibition of the vagus nerve-smooth muscle transmissio
n.