THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF THE ALKALOIDS OF FUMARACEOUS PLANTS III. DICENTRINE METHINE HYDROCHLORIDE

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

The action of dicentrine on intact animals, blood pressure, perfused heart, uterine strips, decerebrate and decapitate animals has been studied. It was found that the action of this drug is similar to that of corydine. Small doses in frogs produce drowsiness and depression, while larger doses result in convulsions which cease on pithing the cord. In the perfused frog's heart dicentrine produces diminution in the amplitude and heart block. Uterine muscle is depressed. Blood pressure in rabbits is reduced and removal of the cerebral hemispheres has little or no effect on the convulsions in rabbits, while technical difficulties prevented conclusive results in decapitate animals.