Fundamental & clinical pharmacology
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The effect of atropine (1-10 micrograms . kg-1) on neuromuscular transmission in humans was studied by analysing its effects on the amplitude of indirectly-elicited twitch (0.2 Hz) and tetanic (50 and 100 Hz for 1 s duration) contractions. Six patients, free from any neuromuscular disorders, undergoing orthopaedic surgery, were included in the present study. The patients received either no premedication or the oral benzodiazepine, temazepam, 30 mg 1-2 h pre-operatively. ⋯ At the same time, heart rate and blood pressures (systolic and diastolic) were recorded. The results showed that atropine enhanced the tetanic contractions, elicited at 50 and 100 Hz for 1 s duration, by 27 +/- 1.2% (50 Hz and atropine, control 220 +/- 13 g tension), and by 43 +/- 7% (100 Hz and atropine, control 333 +/- 26 g tension) at the 5 min intervals (mean +/- S. E., n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)