A QUANTITATIVE STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF COCAINE ON THE RESPONSE OF THE CAT NICTITATING MEMBRANE TO NERVE STIMULATION AND TO INJECTED NORADRENALINE.

Results are reported of a quantitative study of the potentiating effect of cocaine on the responses of the cat nictitating membrane to intravenously and intra-arterially injected noradrenaline, as well as to different types of sympathetic nerve stimulation. Responses of the membrane to noradrenaline were potentiated more with intravenous than with close-arterial injections. From studies of the responses of the nictitating membrane to various forms of sympathetic nerve stimulation before and after injection of cocaine, conclusions are drawn as to the extent to which the transmitter amine liberated by nerve activity is normally removed and its effect thereby limited in duration and extent.

THE RESPONSES TO TYRAMINE OF THE NORMAL AND DENERVATED NICTITATING MEMBRANE OF THE CAT: ANALYSIS OF THE MECHANISMS AND SITES OF ACTION.

The response to tyramine of the denervated nictitating membrane has been analysed by comparing dose/response curves obtained by injections into the femoral vein and into the carotid artery of the spinal cat while recording contractions of innervated and chronically denervated membranes and those of cats treated with reserpine. It is concluded that the effect of tyramine given by these routes is due primarily to catechol amines released from stores within the nictitating membrane itself. Higher doses of tyramine also cause contraction of the membrane by liberating catechol amines into the circulating blood from stores outside the membrane.