CURARE-LIKE ACTION OF DECAMETHYLENE-BIS-(ATROPINIUM IODIDE)

¹ Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois, College of Medicine, Chicago 12

1. The action of decamethylene-bis-(atropinium iodide) possessing the same inter-atomic distance between the quaternary N atoms as d-tubocurarine and decamethylene-bis-(trimethylammonium iodide) was compared with d-tubocurarine C-10, atropine sulfate, atropine methyl nitrate and pentamethylene-bis-(atropinium iodide) for its curare-like and atropine-like effects.

2. In rabbits, this compound was five times more potent than pentamethylene-bis-(atropiniuin iodide), 140 times more potent than atropine methyl nitrate, and about twice as potent as d-tubocurarine.

3. The curarizing effects of this compound were readily antagonized by neostigmine.

4. Twinning of quaternary atropine molecules through a decamethylene chain also enhanced the specific peripheral atropine effects. The compound was about twice as potent as atropine methyl nitrate in blocking the effects both of vagal stimulation and of parasympathomimetic agents on the heart.