Effects of
brovincamine (BV) on peripheral nerves were studied in dogs and rats. 1) In
pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs, BV (6.4 mg/kg) administered i.v. did not affect the changes of blood pressure and heart rate induced by
noradrenaline and
adrenaline, but slightly inhibited the hypotensive effect of
acetylcholine. BV had no effect on the
hypertension elicited by carotid sinus reflex, but diminished the
bradycardia by
vagus nerve stimulation. BV did not influence the
tachycardia elicited by stimulation of the postganglionic nerve to stellate ganglion, but slightly inhibited that by the preganglionic stimulation. 2) In spinal dogs, BV (6.4 mg/kg) given i.v. slightly inhibited the increases of blood pressure and heart rate induced by i.v.
dimethylphenylpiperazinium (
DMPP). When i.v. administered in divided doses of 2 and 4 mg/kg, BV induced a slight but stepwise inhibition of the
tachycardia elicited by direct administration of
DMPP,
bethanechol (BCH) and angiotension II (AT II) to the cardiac sympathetic ganglia via the subclavian artery. 3) In rat isolated diaphragm nerve preparations, BV
at 10(-5) and 10(-4) g/ml dose-dependently reduced the twitch response to nerve stimulation. 4) In conclusion, BV does not affect the sympathetic activities but inhibits the
cholinergic function in the autonomic nervous system.