Effects of cocaine and antidepressant drugs on the nictitating membrane of the cat.

Cocaine, imipramine and pipradol potentiated the contractions to adrenaline and noradrenaline, but not to tyramine, on the nictitating membrane of the spinal cat. Pheniprazine and dexamphetamine potentiated the responses to adrenaline, noradrenaline and tyramine, whereas nialamide only potentiated the response to tyramine. Potentiation of the response to stimulation of either the preganglionic or the postganglionic sympathetic nerve trunks was observed with imipramine, pipradol, pheniprazine and dexamphetamine. Only dexamphetamine and pheniprazine caused substantial contractions of the membrane when the preganglionic nerve was cut (acutely decentralized), or when the superior cervical ganglion was removed (acutely denervated). Cocaine produced contractions of the innervated but not of the acutely decentralized membrane. The significance of the peripheral effects of these antidepressant drugs in relation to their central actions is discussed.