Effect of sympathomimetic substances and analogues on tail absorption of frog larva

Similarly to the effect of T3, the tail absorption of frog larvae (Rana arvalis) was stimulated in vitro by the sympathomimetic agents adrenaline, isoproterenol, ephedrine and the adrenaline analogue MMT. The effect of T3 administration was not inhibited by adrenaline, isoproterenol and MMT, but it was by ephedrine and T3 pretreatment. The adrenaline and isoproterenol effect manifested itself after early administration, but not after late and while ephedrine and MMT were effective at long-term administration, even it administered at a later time. Our experiments draw attention to the metamorphotic effect of substances capable of binding to beta-receptors. Their effect may be explained partly by the increase in the cAMP level, partly by a relationship existing between the beta-receptor and the T3 receptor.