THE ACTION OF ADRENALINE ON SPINAL NEURONES SENSITIZED BY PARTIAL ISOLATION

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Abstract
Sensitization of spinal neurones by partial isolation markedly increases their susceptibility to injns. of adrenaline and allows the various stages of the action of adrenaline to be observed both in sacrifice expts. on spinal cats and in chronic frontal lobecto-mized or semidecerebrated animals. Injected intra-arterially or intravenously in quantities ranging from 0.05 mg.-0.3 mg./injn., adrenaline, after an initial transient depression, produces marked excitation of the sensitized neurones, this being followed again by a more prolonged decrease of irritability. These effects of adrenaline are not dependent on blood pressure changes and, as far as can be judged, are not related to any action of adrenaline on the blood vessels of the C. N. S. In spinal prepns., the stimulating action of adrenaline is augmented by cocaine, strychnine, and other convulsant agents, but is abolished by nembutal and by ether anesthesia. In chronic animals, the stimulating action of adrenaline can be facilitated also by repeated injns. of acetylcholine, while adrenaline in turn can, in appropriate quantities, increase and prolong the action of acetylcholine.

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