Potentiating and Pressor Action of Some N-Substituted Hexylamines

Abstract

Summary

1. A series of 19 N-substituted hexylamines have been studied for their effect on blood pressure and on potentiation of the pressor response of some sympathomimetic compounds. 2. N-methyl-hexylamine was found to have the greatest pressor action with di-hexylamine next most active in the aliphatic series. 3. N-(gamma-cyclohexylpropyl)-hexylamine has the greatest pressor action of those compounds containing a ring. In general, compounds containing a cyclohexyl ring were more active than those containing a phenyl ring or with only aliphatic groups. 4. Many of the compounds in this series have been shown to potentiate the pressor response of epinephrine, beta-phenylethylamine, N-methyl-beta-cyclo-hexylethylamine, ephedrine and some other sympathomimetic agents. The potentiation of epinephrine was more variable than that of the other sympathomimetic compounds. 5. The possible mechanisms of the potentiation phenomenon are discussed. The amine-oxidase theory of potentiation does not appear to apply to the compounds in this series. 6. Acute toxicity tests indicate that those compounds containing a cyclohexyl ring are more toxic than those with a phenyl ring. Increasing the length of the chain between the ring and the nitrogen increases the toxicity. Di-n-hexylamine is no more toxic than n-hexylamine.