Dual actions of some N-(1-phenylethyl)guanidines on the nictitating membrane of conscious cats

Abstract After 6 hr, high doses (10 or 20 mg/kg) of some adrenergic neuron blocking drugs derived from N-(1-phenylethyl)guanidine produce relaxation of the nictitating membranes of conscious cats which is less than that produced by small doses (2.5 or 5 mg/kg). After 24 hr, there were marked responses to some drugs that had produced little effect after 6 hr. High doses of the drugs contract the nictitating membranes of cats treated with pempidine or (—)-N-(1-phenylethyl)guanidine; low doses do not. This contraction opposes the relaxation evoked by the adrenergic neuron blockade and could account for the anomalous dose-response relationships. The contraction may result from localized release of noradrenaline from the nictitating membrane.