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The mechanism of action of ephedrine

  • Pharmacology
  • Published:
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine Aims and scope

Summary

As demonstrated in experiments on cats, ephedrine reduced or completely eliminated the neuromuscular block, caused by bretylium and weakened the sympatholytic effect of the latter. In reserpinized rabbits ephedrine provoked no peculiar pressor effect. After ephedrine administration to reserpinized rabbits in which cholinesterase block was attained by giving galanthamine, a regular depressor effect was noted, which correlated with the dose of ephedrine.

The effects mentioned are attributed to the capacity of ephedrine to stimulate acetylcholine liberation by the postganglionic sympathetic nerve endings, as well as by the cholinergic nerve endings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, Faculties of Pediatrics and Hygiene, Donetsk Medical Institute, Donetsk, USSR

    I. V. Komissarov

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  1. I. V. Komissarov
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Komissarov, I.V. The mechanism of action of ephedrine. Bull Exp Biol Med 57, 442–445 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00782510

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00782510

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