The following compounds were obtained from Sigma (St. Louis, MO, U.S.A.): testosterone (TES; 17β-hydroxy-4-andosten-3-one), 5α-DHT (17β-hydroxy-5α- androstan-3-one), acetylcholine chloride (ACh), L-Norepinephrine hydrochloride (NA), sodium nitroprusside (SNP), caltinonin gene related peptide (CGRP). 5β-DHT (17β- hydroxy-5β-androstan-3-one) was obtained from Steraloids (Newport, RI, U.S.A.).
The androgens were prepared separately as a stock solution (0.1 M) in absolute ethanol and then diluted in absolute ethanol to the concentration required for each experiment; final ethanol concentration in the tissue baths never exceeded 0.1% (v/v) of the vehicle. The remaining drugs were dissolved in distilled water except the NA which was dissolved in a NaCl (0.9%)-ascorbic acid (0.01% w/v) solution; appropriate dilutions were prepared in KHS on the day of the experiment. Moreover, SNP was kept in the dark until use to avoid light-induced degradation.
The androgens were prepared separately as a stock solution (0.1 M) in absolute ethanol and then diluted in absolute ethanol to the concentration required for each experiment; final ethanol concentration in the tissue baths never exceeded 0.1% (v/v) of the vehicle. The remaining drugs were dissolved in distilled water except the NA which was dissolved in a NaCl (0.9%)-ascorbic acid (0.01% w/v) solution; appropriate dilutions were prepared in KHS on the day of the experiment. Moreover, SNP was kept in the dark until use to avoid light-induced degradation.