PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - HALEY, THOMAS J.
AU  - McCORMICK, W. G.
TI  - A STUDY OF THE PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF TETROPHAN (3,4-DIHYDRO-1,2-BENZACRIDINE-5-CARBOXYLIC ACID)
DP  - 1955 Apr 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 371--375
VI  - 113
IP  - 4
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/113/4/371.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/113/4/371.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1955 Apr 01; 113
AB  - Acute toxic symptoms produced by the Tetrophan consist of tetanic convulsions, general lethargy, Cheyne-Stokes respiration and death by cardiovascular collapse followed by respiratory failure. Tetrophan increased sleeping time in mice given pentobarbital or mephenesin and neither of these drugs was able to block the convulsions which were shown to be due to a direct effect of Tetrophan on the muscles. Tetrophan had no effect on the intestines in vitro or in vivo and it had no cholinergic or adrenergic blocking actions. In the cat, Tetrophan produced a transient vasodepression at low doses and cardiovascular collapse at high doses. A transient apnea which was not modified by atropine, hexamethonium chloride or pyrilamine maleate was also observed. A prolonged inotropic effect was observed when the isolated guinea pig heart was exposed to Tetrophan. At the higher doses, the drug also produced a negative chronotropic effect and a reduction in coronary flow. Changes in the electrocardiogram resembling those seen in digitalis toxicity were observed after intravenous injection of 5 to 40 mgm./kgm. of Tetrophan. © 1955, by The Williams & Wilkins Company