Acetylcholine in extracts and perfusates of urinary bladder

Abstract

Tissue extracts of the urinary bladder of the rat, cat and guinea-pig contain an acetylcholine-like substance which is considered to be stored predominantly in post-ganglionic nerve fibres. An acetylcholine-like substance was liberated into the fluid bathing the isolated bladder of the guinea-pig and its output was increased 200-fold after transmural stimulation. The acetylcholine-like substance, both from bladder extracts (rat, cat and guinea-pig) and perfusates (rat), was found at the same Rf value as acetylcholine chloride when separated by paper chromatography in three solvent systems. It is concluded that the substance was acetylcholine.