The Effects of Pretreatment with Reserpine,α-Methyl- p -tyrosine,or Prostaglandin E 1 on Adrenergic Salivation

Abstract

Summary

Pretreatment with reserpine, α-MT, or PGE₁ reduced or abolished salivation responses to d-amphetamine. Reserpine also abolished salivation responses to l-norepinephrine after cocaine, but not to the directly acting amine, l-isoproterenol. PGE₁ was most effective in reducing salivation responses to d-amphetamine, less effective against l-isoproterenol, and ineffective against l-norepinephrine after cocaine. Elevated ambient temperature prevented the effects of reserpine pretreatment on salivation responses to d-amphetamine. Reserpine pretreatment likewise only reduced, but failed to block, heat-induced salivation. High body temperatures favor while low body temperatures antagonize adrenergic salivation responses, especially those to d-amphetamine.

The authors thank Mr. Morton Raff of the Biometrics Research Branch of the National Heart and Lung Institute for the statistical analyses of the data.