| Description |
There seem to be at least two possible viewpoints with which a thesis problem may be attacked. First, and perhaps more common, is the viewpoint that some limited aspects must be studied exhaustively. The second viewpoint is that a problem should be surveyed in order that the approaches for postdoctoral work may be uncovered. There are certain advantages to each approach. However, in the study undertaken here, the nature of the problem itself tended to force the adoption of the second point of view. Thus the question of an explanation for the finding that certain drugs diminished contractions induced by subsequent drugs was the starting point. However, the state of knowledge of smooth muscle physiology and pharmacology did not seem to allow even a place for this finding, much less offer of ready explanation. Therefore, it became necessary to examine critically many of the dogmas concerning smooth muscle. In the course of these reexaminations many unusual results were obtained, each leading to further reexaminations of accepted theories until finally the greatest difficulty became the finding of a convenient stopping point. Almost inevitable when a problem progresses in this manner, many loose ends remain. However, it seems that the overall picture which appeared will be of aid not only in eventually trying together these loose ends, but also in elucidating the mechanisms of inducing contractions of smooth muscle. |
