Effect of cocaine on the affinity of α‐adrenoceptors for noradrenaline

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Abstract
1 Doses of cocaine which cause specific or unspecific supersensitivity in cat spleen did not alter the blocking effect of phenoxybenzamine on the responses of isolated cat spleen strips to noradrenaline. 2 The same doses of cocaine did not increase the protection of α-adrenoceptors given by noradrenaline during a standard exposure to phenoxybenzamine. 3 It is concluded that cocaine does not change the affinity of the α-adrenoceptor for noradrenaline, and therefore changes in affinity are not responsible for the potentiating action of cocaine.