Abstract
In this study, the effects of phenoxybenzamine and related drugs on the action of CCK-PZ and caerulein were examined in isolated gall bladder of guinea pig and higher esophagus strip of fowl. The strips were placed in a bath containing Locke-Ringer solution maintained at $38^{\circ}C$. Oxygen was continuously bubbled through the solution. The contractile response was measured isometrically by a force displacement transducer connected to polygraph. In isolated gall bladder preparation caerulein produced contractile response of CCK-PZ type, but the relative potency on a weight basis was 30 times stronger than CCK-PZ. The response of caerulein or CCK-PZ was not blocked by cholinergic blocking agent and both alpha and beta adrenergic blockades, however, the response of caerulein or CCK-PZ was exceptionally blocked by phenoxybenzamine. In isolated esophagus strip CCK-PZ with high concentration produced marked contraction which was not modified by atropine and other blocking agents, whereas the response was blocked by phenoxybenzamine. These results lead to the conclusion that phenoxybenzamine inherently inhibits the contractile response of CCK-PZ and caerulein on esophagus and other smooth muscle.