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SOME EFFECTS OF ATROPINE ON SMOOTH MUSCLE
Author(s) -
CUTHBERT A. W.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0366-0826
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1963.tb01527.x
Subject(s) - atropine , physostigmine , acetylcholine , medicine
Contractions of the nerve‐free smooth muscle of the chick amnion, either spontaneous or in response to electrical or mechanical stimuli, are potentiated by high concentrations (10 −5 g/ml.) of atropine sulphate. In addition hyoscine, homatropine, lachesine, propantheline bromide and atropine N ‐methyl and atropine N ‐butyl salts potentiate spontaneous activity in the amnion. The effects of atropine do not appear to depend on inhibition of cholinesterase; on labilization, stabilization or depolarization of the muscle cell membrane; or on an increase in metabolism. It is suggested that the effects are the result of blockade of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. The way in which this may facilitate the conducted response is discussed.