Adrenergic Innervation and Structure of the Bull Retractor Penis Muscle

Abstract

Abstract The structure of the retractor penis muscle of the bull was examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin. The autonomic innervation of the muscle was investigated by applying formaldehyde‐ipduced catechol amine fluorescence and the copper ferricyanide modification of the original thiocholine method for cholinesterases. It was found that the muscle consists of smooth muscle fibres only. A rich adrenergic innervation was detected. Acetylcholinesterase was also found in the nerves. The distribution of noradrenaline and acetylcholinesterase within the nerves showed some correspondence. The functional significance of the findings is briefly discussed.