Methonium Compounds in the Treatment of Hypertension

Abstract

One may end on a frankly physiological and even more frankly speculative note. The physiological in- terest of ganglia lies particularly in their relation to the other two synapses-the motor end-plate between nerve and muscle, and that between nerve cells-the central nervous synapse. A longer-chained member of the methonium series, decamethonium, acts only at the myoneural junction. Next to this there are penta- methonium and hexamethonium, closely related to deca- methonium but acting only at the ganglionic synapse. May not this be a pointer to yet other compounds specific for the central nervous synapse ? And if there are, may there not be, as with ganglia, degrees of specificity within the central nervous system ? It is engaging to consider what sorts of action one might expect from such drugs. One thing, at least, seems certain-that the synapse in its various forms has many problems and surprises in store for both clinician and physiologist.