PHYSIOLOGY OF EPINEPHRINE 101 



as would lead one to assume any calorigenic function for 

 epinephrine. The available evidence is thus against the 

 supposition that epinephrine (in man and the dog at least) 

 plays any important calorigenic function in the reaction to 

 cold. 243 



Exclusion of the carotid sinus. Ligation of both carotid 

 arteries of dogs under deep anesthesia causes an increased 

 secretion of epinephrine into the blood stream. 189 The in- 

 creased oxygen consumption which accompanies this occlusion 

 does not take place after adrenalectomy and hence has been 

 attributed to the liberation of epinephrine. 



THE EFFECT OF DRUGS ON THE SECRETION OF EPINEPHRINE 



Many drugs when injected into the body exert an influence 

 which, in part at least, is due to the secretion of epinephrine 

 from the adrenals. Morphine, chloroform, ether, strychnine, 

 nicotine, strophanthus, camphor, etc. cause a discharge of 

 epinephrine which in turn exerts an influence on the organism. 

 Thus, as Dale and Laidlaw 148 showed, while nicotine and pilo- 

 carpine stimulate the isolated uterus of the non-pregnant cat, 

 these same drugs inhibit uterine movements when injected 

 into the living animal. In the latter case the discharge of 

 epinephrine caused by these drugs preponderates in its effect 

 on the uterus over the action of the small amount of the drugs 

 which reach the uterus through the circulation. Similarly 

 insulin causes a decrease in the amino acid content of the blood, 

 as a secondary effect of the epinephrine secretion which it 

 stimulates. 152 



Convulsants. Strychnine 590 • 657 causes a marked increase in the 

 output of epinephrine, which persists for over an hour. There 

 is no evidence that this increased secretion is accompanied by any 

 appreciable diminution in the epinephrine store of the medulla. 

 The effect of strychnine occurs after section of the spinal cord 

 in the cervical region but is prevented by division of the 

 efferent secretory pathway and is thus the result of a central 



