Comparison of Strophanthin-K and Tryptamine-Strophanthidin after Intra-ventricular Injection in Unanesthetized Dogs.

A comparison has been made of the effects produced by the intra-ventricular injection of strophanthin-K and tryptamine-strophanthidin. Both drugs produce bradycardia and typical digitalis changes in the T-wave of the electrocardiogram at low doses and manifestations of digitalis toxicity at higher doses. Some of the effects were not observed after much higher doses intravenously, thus indicating that the effects seen had their origin in the central nervous system. Anesthesia abolishes these actions of the strophanthidin derivatives, indicating that anesthesia should be avoided in the study of centrally mediated drug effects.