[Effects of ritodrine hydrochloride on motor nervous system and central nervous system]

Pharmacological effects of ritodrine hydrochloride (ritodrine), a beta 2-adrenoceptor agonist, were investigated in comparison with that of isoxsuprine hydrochloride (isoxsuprine) on the motor nervous system and the central nervous system. Ritodrine (1-30 mg/kg, i.v.) suppressed spontaneous movements in mice, rats and dogs. The animals became slightly sedative and immobile. Ritodrine caused an increase of water intake and vomitting in dogs. These fingings were recovered in 3-5 hr. Isoxsuprine showed similar effects on general behaviour, but the depressive action was more potent than that of ritodrine. Ritodrine slightly suppressed exploratory behaviour in high dose, but had little effect on emotional behaviour. Ritodrine had no effects on conditioned avoidance response, tremor, motor coordination, thiopental induced sleeping time and few types of convulsions. Ritodrine showed no analgetic effects or muscle relaxant actions. Isoxsuprine, in high dose, suppressed motor coordination and showed ataxia. Ritodrine slightly raised body temperature and dose-dependently suppressed hypothermia and ptosis induced by reserpine. Ritodrine (1-10 mg/kg, i.v.) caused a slight resting pattern of spontaneous EEG in rabbits. On the other hand, arousal responses evoked by auditory stimulation, photic stimulation or electrical stimulation of mesencephalic reticular formation were unaffected by ritodrine at any doses used. These results suggest that ritodrine shows little effect on the motor nervous system and central nervous system, and its effects may be nonspecific.