CHLORISONDAMINE, A NONCOMPETITIVE GANGLIONIC BLOCKER, ANTAGONIZES THE CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF COCAINE IN CONSCIOUS SQUIRREL-MONKEYS

Cocaine (0.3 mg/kg i.v.) produced prolonged pressor and tachycardiac responses in conscious squirrel monkeys. Peak pressor and tachycardiac responses following cocaine were 32.7 ± 3.3 mm Hg and 78.8 ± 7.4 beats/min, respectively. Pretreatment with 1 mg/kg chlorisondamine, a noncompetitive ganglionic blocker, attenuated the pressor (18.3 ± 3.8 mm Hg) and tachycardiac (63.7 ± 10 beats/min) effects of cocaine, while 5 mg/kg chlorisondamine completely prevented these effects of cocaine. This finding supports the conclusion that the cardiovascular effects of cocaine are centrally mediated. © 1993 Academic Press. All rights reserved.