Antioxotremorine action of propranolol

Effects of beta-adrenergic blockers on drug-induced tremors

We studied the effect of various kinds of beta-adrenergic blockers on oxotremorine-, harmaline- and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)-induced tremors in mice. To investigate what property of beta-blockers plays the main role in suppressing tremor, we employed five beta-blockers (propranolol, atenolol, butoxamine, pindolol, and arotinolol). All drugs suppressed oxotremorine-induced tremors but none reduced harmaline-induced tremors. Even though TRH-induced tremors were decreased significantly only by propranolol and high doses of arotinolol, all drugs had a tendency to reduce the tremor. We concluded that neuropharmacological mechanisms underlying to harmaline-induced tremors were different from those of TRH- and oxotremorine-induced tremors and that features of beta-blockers (beta 1- or beta 2-selectivity, intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, and membrane stabilizing activity) did not primarily contribute to the suppression of tremors.

Anti-tremor action of C10Dichol, a peripheral acetylcholine synthesis inhibitor

1 Anti-tremor action of decamethylene bis-(hydroxyethyl)-dimethylammonium bromide (C10Dichol), a peripheral acetylcholine synthesis inhibitor, was investigated. 2 C10Dichol inhibited tremor induced by oxotremorine, nicotine and physostigmine and afforded partial protection from physostigmine-induced mortality in mice. 3 In non-paralysing doses, C10Dichol antagonized the neuromuscular effects of oxotremorine, nicotine and physostigmine. 4 Prior administration of C10Dichol failed to prevent tremor and neuromuscular paralysis induced by harmine and arecoline. 5 In the absence of any antimuscarinic property of C10Dichol, its neuromuscular effects appeared to be casually related to its anti-tremor action. 6 This study reveals a possibility for the development of peripherally acting anti-Parkinson drugs.

Enhancement by oxotremorine of acetylcholine release from the rat phrenic nerve

Oxotremorine (10.5 micron) produced a paralytic effect on twitch responses of rat diaphragm in vitro to direct and indirect stimulation. 2 The paralytic effect of oxotremorine was absent when the diaphragm was stimulated directly in the presence of hemicholinium-3 (0.42 mM), at a time when twitch responses to indirect stimulation ceased completely. 3 Oxotremorine, at two different pharmacologically active doses, strikingly increased the resting as well as electrically evoked release of acetylcholine into the bathing fluid from the phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. 4 This presynaptic effect of oxotremorine may explain its pharmacological effects at the cholinergic synapses studied so far.