THE COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF ANALOGOUS TRIMETHYL AMMONIUM IODIDES OF BENZENE AND FURANE

¹ From the Department of Pharmacology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia

1. In the present studies furfuryl- and benzyl-trimethyl ammonium iodides exhibited qualitatively indistinguishable but quantitatively different physiological effects. A parasympathetic type of effect was demonstrated for both compounds but the furfuryl derivative was found to be 6 to 8 times more active than its benzyl analogue. Both derivatives produced a rise of blood pressure in atropinized cats but in this case the benzyl compound was 6 to 8 times more active than the furfuryl derivative.

2. In anesthetized dogs and cats -furfuryl ethyl trimethyl ammonium iodide evidenced a slightly greater depressor potency than -phenyl ethyl trimethyl ammonium iodide whereas the latter exhibited greater pressor activity after atropine than its furfuryl analogue.

3. The intensity of depressor action, as well as pressor action, after atropine, of -furfuryl ethyl- and -phenylethyl trimethyl ammonium iodides was found to be less than that of their parent homologues.