INFLUENCE OF COCAINE ON THE UTERINE REACTIONS INDUCED BY ADRENALIN AND HYPOGASTRIC NERVE STIMULATION

¹ From the Departments of Anatomy and of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University

1. Experiments were performed on cats, rats, rabbits and monkeys to show the effect of adrenalin and nerve stimulation on the non-pregnant and pregnant uterus. Cocaine was then administered and the influence of this drug on the uterine reactions induced by the adrenalin and nerve stimulation was determined.

2. Stimulation of the hypogastric nerves and adrenalin both resulted in inhibition of uterine activity in the non-pregnant cat and rat. During pregnancy reversal of this effect to one of excitation developed. This pregnancy reversal was more constant in the cat than in the rat.

3. Stimulation of the hypogastric nerves and adrenalin both caused excitation of the pregnant and non-pregnant uterus of the rabbit and of the non-pregnant uterus of the monkey.

4. Accentuation of the effect of nerve stimulation and adrenalin was observed after cocaine on the uterus of the cat and rat. No augmentation of such uterine effects followed the administration of cocaine in the rabbit and monkey.

5. From the results of cocaine accentuation it is suggested that the fibers contained in the hypogastric nerves of the cat and rat are predominantly adrenergic, whereas in the rabbit and monkey the hypogastric nerves contain a relatively higher percentage of cholinergic elements.