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An examination of central actions characteristic of scopolamine: Comparison of central and peripheral activity in scopolamine, atropine and some synthetic basic esters

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Summary

A survey of the literature shows that in many central actions, scopolamine has about 10 times the activity of atropine, whereas the ratio for most peripheral actions is nearer 2. For effects upon the eye, however, the ratio lies between 5 and 10, even when the drugs are applied locally.

In a comparison of the central activities of a series of synthetic compounds with their peripheral anticholinergic activities, with the object of achieving a higher ratio of central to peripheral activity than is found in scopolamine, the peripheral action chosen was dilatation of the pupil. Actions presumed to be central that were studied were: potentiation of morphine analgesia in mice, antagonism of morphine-induced tail erection in mice, emesis in pigeons and suppression of spontaneous alternation in rats.

Evidence of separation of central from peripheral activity was obtained, one compound showing a ratio of central to peripheral activity 50 times as great as that of scopolamine.

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  1. Pharmacological Laboratories, Research Department, Roche Products Ltd., Welwyn Garden City

    M. W. Parkes

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Parkes, M.W. An examination of central actions characteristic of scopolamine: Comparison of central and peripheral activity in scopolamine, atropine and some synthetic basic esters. Psychopharmacologia 7, 1–19 (1965). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00404160

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00404160

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