Agonist effects of beta-phenethylamines on the noradrenergic cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate generating system in rat limbic forebrain. Stereoisomers of p-hydroxynorephedrine.

Significant agonist activity for the specific noradrenergic cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) generating system in rat limbic forebrain requires a beta-3,4-dihydroxyphenethylamine with a beta-hydroxyl group in the R configuration. Thus, neither of the enantiomers of p-hydroxynorephedrine nor of p-hydroxynorpseudoephedrine mimics the agonist activity of (R)-norepinephrine. It has yet to be established whether or not one of the p-hydroxynorephedrines exhibits antagonist activity in this same system.