TY - JOUR T1 - THE VASOCONSTRICTOR ACTION OF COCAINE JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 150 LP - 155 VL - 65 IS - 2 AU - WILLIAM H. CROSBY Y1 - 1939/02/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/65/2/150.abstract N2 - The ability of cocaine to constrict the conjunctival and aural vessels of rabbits is not due to a potentiation of the vasoconstrictor action of adrenalin. Experiments involving interruption of the sympathetic pathways at various points and experiments with ergotoxine suggest that the site of action of cocaine is a dual one involving 1) a sensitization of the smooth muscle of the blood vessel wall to tonic sympathetic discharges and 2) an adrenalin-like action upon the sympathetic receptors of the muscle cell. ER -