ACTION OF EPINEPHRINE ON THE INTESTINE FOLLOWING STIMULATION BY PARASYMPATHETIC DRUGS

Abstract

[long dash]In guinea pig ileum contracted by pilocarpine or physostigmine the addition of epinephrine caused a further contraction sometimes followed by relaxation, sometimes not. After histamine, epinephrine always caused relaxation, after a definite latent period. The relaxation was more rapid and the latent period shorter in the presence of nicotine or atropine. These facts indicate that epinephrine may act as an adjuvant to parasympathetic drugs and that its action is dependent on the amount of parasympathetic stimulation.