TY - JOUR T1 - THE CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY ACTIONS OF RAUWOLSCINE JF - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO - J Pharmacol Exp Ther SP - 278 LP - 286 VL - 123 IS - 4 AU - Bernard Levy AU - George B. Koelle Y1 - 1958/08/01 UR - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/123/4/278.abstract N2 - The cardiovascular effects of rauwolscine have been studied in 42 dogs and 16 cats. Rauwolscine was found to be a short-acting, reversible type of adrenergic blocking agent. The ratio of the sympatholytic to the adrenolytic dose was found to be relatively high (approximately eight to one) as estimated from the doses of rauwolscine needed to inhibit contractions of the nictitating membrane produced by electrical stimulation of the cervical sympathetic trunk and by intravenously administered epinephrine. Furthermore, following doses of rauwolscine wilich produced "epinephrine-reversal" of the bllood pressure, the pressor response to bilateral carotid occlusion was not reduced. Rauwolscine was shown to exert a peripheral vasodilator effect on both the innervated and denervated hind limb of the dog. The mechanism of the vasodilatation is probably a direct effect, in addition to adrenergic blockade. Rauwolscine produced tachypnea consistently in the dog but not in the cat. Evidence has been presented to show that the site of the respiratory effect in the dog is central. The effects of rauwolscine on the heart rate were variable. With hypotensive doses, it usually produced no significant change in the eat and a transient bradycardia in the dog. ER -