A PHARMACODYNAMIC STUDY OF THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM IN NORMAL MEN THE EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS INJECTIONS OF EPINEPHRINE, ATROPIN, ERGOTAMINE AND PHYSOSTIGMINE UPON THE BLOOD PRESSURE AND PULSE RATE

¹ From the Research Service of the Worcester State Hospital and the Memorial Foundation for Neuro-Endocrine Research, Worcester, Massachusetts

A study was made in 24 normal male subjects of the reactions of blood pressure and pulse rate to the intravenous administration of epinephrine, atropine, physostigmine and ergotamine.

1. The administration of all four drugs resulted in a significant rise in systolic blood pressure of varying intensity and duration.

2. The diastolic blood pressure also underwent a significant increase with the exception of epinephrine in case of which pressor and depressor responses were so equally distributed that the net change was negligible.

3. Epinephrine, atropin, and physostigmine each resulted in a significant increase in pulse rate while ergotamine caused a significant slowing of the heart rate.

4. No significant relationship was found in the reaction of the systolic or diastolic pressure or pulse rate: (a) to the magnitude of their control readings, (b) to one another after the injection of a single drug, or (c) to one another in a comparison of the responses to several drugs.

5. This lack of relationship in reactions was due to individual variability rather than to inconsistency of the basal blood pressure and pulse rate.

6. Age, height, and weight caused no significant variation in the reactivity of the individual.

7. Because of the inconsistency of the reactions to the drugs no diagnostic schema of the status of the autonomic nervous system within the individual could be evolved.