A STUDY OF THE AUTONOMIC MANIFESTATIONS SEEN IN ACUTE ALDRIN AND DIELDRIN POISONING

Abstract

The peripheral parasympathomimetic action of aldrin (1,2,3,4,10,10-hexochloro-l,4,4a,5,8,8a-hepahydro-l, 4,5,8-dimethanonaphthalene) was investigated in vagotomized and adrenalectomized cats under chloralose and urethan anesthesia. Under these experimental conditions aldrin caused slowing of the anesthesia. Under these experimental conditions aldrin caused slowing of the heart, potentiated the effects of electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, and augmented the secretory effect of the chorda tympani on the decentralized submaxillary salivary gland. Blood withdrawn 5 minutes after intravenous injections of aldrin into cats showed a reduced rate of destruction of added acetylcholine when tested on the frog''s rectus abdominis muscle. In spite of a marked central action, dieldrin (l,2,3,4,10,10-hexochloro-6,7-epoxy-l,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-actahydro-l,4,5,8-dimethanonaphthalene) exerted none of these peripheral effects.