Autonomic response patterns during intravenous infusion of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine.

Abstract

A.LTI HOUGH extensive work has been reported on the differential effects of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine upon functions mediated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS) ,»•' *• • •• few variables have been measured simultaneously and most studies have used direct injection rather than controlled infusion. Drug reactions are thereby confounded with reactions to the needle. This study reports the effects of these drugs upon a number of simultaneously recorded ANS variables and isolates reactions to needle insertion, to saline at different rates of infusion, and to the drugs at different infusion rates and concentrations. It is one of a series of studies on autonomic response patterns to various stimuli, and is of particular interest in view of recent attempts to relate circulating levels of epinephrine and nor-epinephrine to emotional states such as fear and anger.-->-