THE EFFECT OF ADMINISTRATION OF VARIOUS PHENYLALKYL HYDRAZINES ON THE CATECHOLAMINE CONTENT AND RATE OF CONTRACTIONS OF THE RAT UTERUS

¹ Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, The University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, Wisconsin

A series of phenylalkyl hydrazines was studied for their effect on the epinephrine content and rate of contractions of the rat uterus. Administration of certain of these hydrazines elevated the epinephrine content of the uterus and decreased the initial rate of spontaneous uterine contractions in vitro. Alterations of the alkyl portion of the hydrazines resulted in agents which produced either increases in the catecholamines of the uterus or the myocardium; certain hydrazines produced increases in both organs. Compounds with a methyl group in the alpha position produced an increase in the epinephrine and norepinephrine content of the uterus. Compounds with a straight chain alkyl grouping produced little or no effect on the catecholamines of the uterus but produced marked elevations in the myocardial catecholamines.