THE ADRENERGIC BLOCKING EFFECT OF CERTAIN -CHLOROETHYL AMINES

¹ Dept. of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore

1. A series of -chloroethyl amines has been studied for evidence of adrenergic blocking activity by their ability to protect mice against lethal doses of epinephrine. Active agents were tested for the production of adrenergic block in cats.

2. From data reported herein and elsewhere, it appears that activity resides in tertiary -halogenated amines substituted with certain aromatic groups separated by at least one C atom from the N atom.

3. Evidence is presented that dibenamine is transformed slowly in vivo. This does not appear to be responsible for the prolonged action of this and related compounds.

4. The absence of an effect of such adrenergic blocking agents upon the excitatory response of the heart to epinephrine is confirmed using the papillary muscle technique.