THE ACTION OF SYMPATHOMIMETIC AMINES ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AND THE BLOOD SUGAR: RELATION OF CHEMICAL STRUCTURE TO MECHANISM OF ACTION

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Stritch School of Medicine of Loyola University, Chicago 12 Illinois

1. The effects of the intracisternal injection of various sympathomimetic amines on the central nervous system and on the blood sugar of dogs have been investigated.

2. The catechol compounds (epinephrmne, N-isopropyl arterenol, Butanephrine and 1-arterenol), injected i.c., exhibit an analgesic, anesthetic and hypnotic action and induce a more or less long-lasting central hyperglycemia.

The central effects of i.c. epinephrine are the most extensive and the longestlasting. I. c. epinephrine also exerts a stimulation of the respiratory center without changes in blood pressure or electrocardiogram. I. c. N-isopropyl arterenol, Butanephrine and 1-arterenol produce marked changes in the blood pressure and ECG.

3. The phenol compounds, injected i.c., produce only a short-lasting sedation (as seen after i.c. Synephrine) or excitement (as found after i.c. Neo-Synephrine). There is only a moderate, short-lasting increase in blood glucose following the i.c. use of these compounds. The i.c. injection of these substances is followed by a high rise in blood pressure and unfavorable disturbances in the ECG.

4. The phenyl compounds (ephedrine, Benzedrine and Propadrine), injected i.c., produce no analgesia, no anesthesia, no sleep, but great excitement. In addition, there are a high rise in blood pressure and severe disturbances in the ECG. No changes in the level of the blood glucose follow the i.c. injection of these compounds.

5. The 2-amino heptanes (Tuamine and Oenethyl), injected i.c., induce no anesthesia, no sleep, but very great excitement, stimulation of motor areas of the cerebral cortex and a high increase in the blood pressure. The blood glucose is only slightly changed or not at all after i.c. injection of these amines.

6. The relationship between chemical structure and the activities exhibited after the i.c. injection of these various amines is discussed.

7. The possibility of intrathecal administration of epinephrine as an aid in spinal anesthesia is discussed.

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