[Dihydroergocristine. A review of pharmacology and toxicology]

A pharmacological and toxicological review of dihydroergocristine (DHEC, CAS 17479-19-5) is reported. Dihydroergocristine exercises a double agonistic/antagonistic activity on dopaminergic and adrenergic receptors; it also shows a non competitive antagonistic effect on serotonin receptors. The central effects of DHEC depend on the initial cerebrovascular resistance. DHEC exercises an inhibiting effect on the anaerobic glycolysis and on aerobic oxidation processes. It increases the cerebral blood flow and the oxygen consumption of the brain. Dihydroergocristine protects the brain against the metabolic effects of ischaemia by acting at a cellular level. In age-related modifications of the cerebral enzymatic antioxidant system DHEC increases the reduced glutathione. DHEC exercises a vasoregulating amphoteric action which depends on the initial tonus: it is hypotensive in hypertensive and normotensive animals but it is hypertensive in hypotensive animals. The results of acute and chronic toxicity in rats, dogs and monkeys, of teratogenesis and fertility in rats and rabbits and of mutagenic tests show that DHEC is a non toxic and well tolerated drug.