[Use of a magnetic field for guided transport of curare-like substances]

Magnetically carried microspheres were used to investigate whether the curare-like drugs can be selectively transported to the muscles of one of the limbs of the cat. Pyrocurine and diadonium incorporated in such microspheres primarily suppressed neuromuscular transmission in the limb placed in magnetic field as compared with the control placed outside the field. The use of magnetic microspheres cointaining pyrocurine and diadonium produced no changes in systemic arterial blood pressure, local blood flow, EEG or ECG. The method also diminished the respiratory depression produced by the curare-like substances when they are routinely used for body muscle relaxation.