THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF THE ALKALOIDS OF FUMARACEOUS PLANTS II. CORYDINE

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada

The effects of corydine on intact animals, animals arranged for recording blood pressure, the isolated uterus and the isolated heart have been studied.

In the intact animals an initial stage of drowsiness followed by drowsiness alternating with fibrillary twitchings in isolated muscles was demonatrated. In larger doses the animal developed strychnine-like convulsions which involved the muscles of respiration resulting in death due to asphyxia.

Injected intravenously in rabbits corydine produced an initial fall in blood pressure followed by a return to normal or above normal.

Added to a bath containing the excised uterus, corydine produced increased tone and height of contraction. The perfused frog's heart showed increased tone and considerable slowing.