THE ANTICHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY OF SOME ANTIADRENALINE AGENTS

Abstract

The contractions of the isolated guinea-pig vas deferens in response to stimulation of the sympathetic hypogastric nerve were potentiated by low concentrations and inhibited by high concentrations of the antiadrenaline agents tolazoline, yohimbine, ergotamine, phenoxybenzamine and piperoxan. Eserine potentiated the contractions of the vas deferens produced by hypogastric nerve stimulation. The cholinesterase activity of an extract of vas deferens was decreased by the antiadrenaline agents. The potentiation of responses to sympathetic stimulation by antiadrenaline drugs, which also possess anticholinesterase activity, can be explained on the basis of a cholinergic sympathetic mechanism.