THE EFFECT OF CYANIDE AND OTHER METAL BINDING SUBSTANCES ON THE PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION OF EPINEPHRINE

Abstract

Previous studies of Friedenwald et al. on the secretory mechanism in the ciliary body of the eye had .sug-gested the possibility that the function of epinephrine might be related to heavy metal catalysis. In the present paper, the effect of some metal binding substances on the pharmacological response of certain smooth muscle preps. (intestine, uterus) to threshold concs. of epinephrine has been examined. Autooxidation of epinephrine in the bathing fluid was prevented by the use of colloidal metal binders. Cyanide, thiourea, and allythiourea abolished the pharmacological response to epinephrine. The authors conclude that a heavy metal component in the tissue, possibly Cu, is required for the action of epinephrine.