ON THE PHARMACOLOGY OF THE URETER I. ACTION OF EPINEPHRIN, ERGOTOXIN AND OF NICOTIN

1. The effect of drugs on the ureter was studied by the use of longitudinal strips and rings of the ureters of pigs and oxen. 2. The ureter when kept in Locke solution on ice retains its vitality for three days. 3. A ureteral ring preparation suspended in warm oxygenated urea Locke, exhibits spontaneous rhyth. mic contractions, thus affording a convenient means of studying the effect of drugs on ureteral tonus and peristalsis. 4. Epinephrin increases the rate of ureteral contractions and the tonus of the ureter, larger doses inducing a condition of tonic spasm or tetanus. 5. The action of epinephrin is reversed after previous administration of ergotoxin. 6. The effect of nicotin upon the ureter is a primary stimulating and secondary paralysis, and is a strong corroboration of the existence of ganglion cells. 7. The same results were obtained with the human ureter from a case of nephrectomy.