[General pharmacological studies on tramadol, a potent analgetic agent (author's transl)]. / Allgemeine pharmakologische Untersuchungen mit Tramadol, einem stark wirkenden Analgetikum.

The general pharmacological properties of 1-(m-methoxyphenyl)-2-(dimethylaminomethyl)-cyclohexan-1-ol (tramadol; Tramal) are described and compared with those of other strong narcotic analgetics. In behavioral studies tramadol in high doses had a primarily stimulating effect in mice and rats and a sedative effect in rabbits and dogs. The Straub tail phenomenon, a reaction typical for mice administered morphine, was observed only after subtoxic doses of tramadol. In i.v. doses tramadol generally caused a weak central inhibition of non-stimulated and electrically stimulated brain activity in unanesthetized rabbits. Muscle tone and motor coordination in rats and mice were only slightly affected by the drug, in contrast to the effect of morphine. Unlike other strong analgesics tramadol in doses of 5--20 mg/kg i.v. did not cause respiratory depression and even clearly increased respiratory volume and rate in conscious rabbits and anesthetized dogs. In cats and dogs i.v. doses of tramadol up to 10 mg/kg were well tolerated in the cardiovascular system. Tramadol has a slight, papaverine-like spasmolytic effect and no effect on gastrointestinal motility or urinary and electrolyte excretion. The drug showed no antipyretic properties in rabbits. It inhibited edema in rats and guinea pigs but had no antiproliferative effect in the cotton pellet test in rats. Tramadol did not inhibit monoamine oxidase activity or cause enzyme induction in the rat liver.

Radioimmunoassay for plasma betamethasone 17-benzoate.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay for plasma betamethasone 17-benzoate has been developed. The antiserum used was obtained by immunizing rabbits with betamethasone 17-benzoate-21-hemisuccinate-bovine-serum-albumin conjugate. All of the endogenous steroids tested cross reacted less than 0.10%. A standard curve was established with a useful range from 0.05-5 ng. Reliability criteria were satisfactory. Measurement of plasma concentrations of betamethasone 17-benzoate was performed in patients and in rabbits following occlusive dressing of betamethasone 17-benzoate cream and gel base.

[Pharmacological study on 9 alpha-fluoro-11 beta, 17,21-trihydroxy-16 beta-methyl pregna-1, 4-diene-3,20-dione-17-benzoate(betamethasone-17-benzoate, MS-1112), a local anti-inflammatory agent. (2). Its action of delayed hypersensitivity dermatitis].

The anti-inflammatory activity of MS-1112, a new steroid compound, after topical application and systemical administration was examined by means of delayed-type hypersensitivity in mice and compared with other glucocorticoid analogues, betamethasone-17-valerate (Val), dexamethasone (Dexa) and betamethasone (Beta). In the case of pretreatment and therapeutic effect, topically applied MS-1112 was most active in inhibiting the delayed-type hypersensitivity induced by picryl chloride. The order of those inhibitory activities of MS-1112 and Val was ointment greater than cream greater than gel. In contrast to MS-1112 and Val, inhibitory action of Dexa was slow in onset after the topical application. It appears that esterification of the 17-hydroxyl group increases the anti-inflammatory activity after topical application. While systemically administered, MS-1112 was more potent than Val, and similarly potent to Beta, but less active than Dexa. From the above results, it may be considered that topically applied MS-1112 is superior to other glucocorticoids in the percutaneous penetration and retention in the skin. MS-1112 is thus considered to be a very potent agent as a dermatocorticoid.