“…Evidence suggests that this contraction is mediated by α 1 ‐adrenoceptors. For example, α 1 ‐adrenoceptor agonists increase intraurethral pressure and contract the isolated urethra ( Taniguchi et al ., 1996 ; Nishimatsu et al ., 1999 ) while antagonists at the α 1 ‐adrenoceptor, such as doxazosin and prazosin, inhibit contractions of the prostate and urethra induced by phenylephrine or hypogastric nerve stimulation in the anaesthetized rat, rabbit and dog ( Imagawa et al ., 1989a , 1989b ; Kenny et al ., 1994 ; Guilmard et al ., 1996 ; Suzuki et al ., 2000 ). In conscious rats, α 1 ‐adrenoceptor antagonists reduce baseline urethral pressure ( Martin et al ., 1995 ; 1997 ) and, in the conscious dog, doxazosin, terazosin and tamsulosin block increases in urethral pressure induced by phenylephrine ( Brune et al ., 1996 ).…”