"Direct" effect of reserpine on various preparations.

The action of reserpine added to the bathing solution has been studied in isolated organs, examining various kinds of receptor systems and biological preparations. The investigation has been comparatively carried out in normal and reserpine-pretreated animals. The most important effect of reserpine is the inhibition of the maximum response to noradrenalin in the rat vas deferens, and the inhibition of response to furtrethonium and histamine in the intestine of rat and guinea-pig, respectively. This affect appears to be independent of the release of catecholamines, and is therefore direct, aspecific and similar to the non-competitive effect of papaverine.