Effect of temperature on the electrical activity of the rat epididymis in vitro

1. 1.|Regional differences in the frequency of electrical activity in rat epididymis were maintained at all temperatures below 39°C.

2. 2.|The change in frequency per deg C increased with temperature and was highest in the temperature region of 34–39°C and the Arrhenius plots of the frequency were linear and parallel in all parts of the epididymis.

3. 3.|The Q₁₀ of the frequency varied between 2.2.–4.3.

4. 4.|The conduction velocity at the cauda epididymis was highest (2.8 mm/s) at 37°C. The Q₁₀ of the conduction velocity was 2.3 in the temperature region of 24–37°C.

Author Keywords: Epididymis; smooth muscle; electrical activity; temperature; Q₁₀