The action of sympathetic blocking agents on isolated and innervated atria and vessels.

A preparation is described of isolated rabbit atria with both vagus and sympathetic nerves. The action on it of bretylium and of choline 2,6-xylyl ether bromide (TM10) was studied. A concentration of breylium sufficient to abolish the response to sympathetic stimulation also depressed the response to vagal stimulation. The effect was reversible, though more easily with choline xylyl ether. Both drugs abolished the accelerating action of acetylcholine in the presence of atropine, but they augmented the action of tyramine, and did not reduce that of amphetamine. In the vessels of the perfused rabbit ear they abolished the constrictor effect of nervous stimulation and of acetylcholine, but increased that of tyramine.