THE ACTION OF ALSTONINE

¹ From Indiana University Medical Center, and the Lilly Research Laboratories, Indianapolis, Indiana

1. Alstonine hydrochloride has an antimalarial action against Plasmodium lophurae in ducks, being approximately as active as quinine dihydrochloride. It is, however, much more toxic than quinine as shown in ducklings, mice, and rats.

2. Alstonine HCl lowers blood pressure of anesthetized dogs, cats, and rats, and reduces the response of adrenalin in raising blood pressure (adrenolytic action). Only occasionally does adrenalin reversal occur in rats, but not in cats and dogs.

3. Alstonine HCl in large doses has a deleterious effect on the heart which can be demonstrated electrocardiographically in anesthetized dogs, and by the perfusion of the isolated rabbit's, cat's, and turtle's heart.

4. Fatal doses of alstonine HCl cause primary respiratory failure in anesthetized cats, dogs, and rats.

5. Alstonine HCl frequently inhibits the peristaltic movements of isolated intestines of rats, guinea pigs, and rabbits. It contracts the isolated uterus of the guinea pig, and dilates the bronchioles of pithed dogs previously constricted by pilocarpine or histamine.

6. Alstonine HCl is apparently excreted in urine as judged by the presence of blue fluorescence which it uniformly imparts in aqueous solutions.