Vago-Insulin and Sympathetico-Adrenal Systems, Their Mutual Relationship. II. Reaction to Cocaine and Bulbocapnine.

Abstract

Summary 1. Subcutaneous injection of cocaine hydrochloride causes hyperglycemia in normal rats and hypoglycemia in adrenalectomized rats. If the vagi are sectioned subdiaphragmatically in the adrenalectomized rats, there is no significant change in blood sugar. If the vagi are cut subdiaphragmatically in normal animals, there is a greater increase in blood sugar than in animals with intact vagi. 2. Similar results are obtained with bulbocapnine phosphate. 3. These results are interpreted to mean that cocaine and bulbocapnine although acting quite differently on the somatic nervous system have a similar action on the autonomic system. They stimulate both the vago-insulin and the sympathetico-adrenal system. The effect on the latter predominates in the normal animal.