In a previous paper Darrow and Gellhorn1 showed that epinephrine in physiologic concentrations produces inhibitory effects on both branches of the autonomic nervous system. It was shown that in the presence of epinephrine the sympathetic responses of the pupil, blood pressure, nictitating membrane and foot pads (galvanic reactions) are reduced, and that the responses involving inhibition of the parasympathetic constrictor tonus of the sympathectomized eye are increased. The close association of sympathetic discharges with convulsions produced by insulin (Gellhorn2) and metrazol (Gellhorn and Darrow3) made it desirable to investigate whether the inhibitory effects of epinephrine extend to the somatic nervous system and lead to diminution or suppression of the convulsions. Such an investigation is particularly indicated because of the report by Hall and Leibel4 that epinephrine increases metrazol convulsions and the finding of Schweitzer and Wright5 that it inhibits the knee jerk.
METHODS
Insulin and