THE ACTION OF ATABRINE ON THE ELECTRO CORTICO POTENTIALS

¹ From the Merck Institute for Therapeutic Research, Rahway, New Jersey, and the Laboratories of the Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York

1. Atabrine in does of 5, 10, 12 mgm. per kg. given intraperitoneally or intravenously can alter the electro-corticogram of cats in nembutal anesthesia. The rapid wave frequency usually disappeared and only slow waves of low amplitude remained.

2. This central depressant action of atabrine seems to be independent of the atabrine blood concentration and appears to be related to the atabrine content of the brain. This effect was observed within a few minutes following intravenous injection, but usually did not appear until one hour or longer after the injection; it persisted, depending upon the dose given for 1-4 hours.

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3. A similar atabrine action was seen in the electrocorticogram of pithed frogs following the injection of 0.5 mg.-1 mg. atabrine. 2 mgm.-3 mgm. of atabrine injected into the thoracic lymph sac blocked the righting reflexes and reduced the motility of the animals; it was followed by a reversible paresis lasting several hours or by irreversible paralysis in spite of a continued heart action, finally leading to death.

4. Our results tend to support clinical observations of central disturbances occurring during, or following the administration of atabrine.