Studies on the mode of action of reserpine

1. The actions of reserpine have been investigated using a number of tissues containing contractile elements. 2. Both the direct effects of reserpine and its actions upon drug- induced responses have been investigated. 3. Reserpine has been found to antagonise some of the effects of acetylcholine, (-)-adrenaline, (-)-noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, pitressin, barium chloride and potassium chloride on such preparations as the frog rectus abdominis muscle, the isolated guinea-pig ileum, and auricles, the isolated perfused heart and the spinal cat. 4. It is suggested that reserpine may affect the metabolic processes which underlie muscular contraction