Daniopolu Method

DANIOPOLU METHOD (pharmacodynamic) for studying the parasympathetic nervous system; a solution (1%) of atropine sulfate is administered intravenously in portions of 0.5 cm³ every 2-5 minutes until a clear reaction of vagus paralysis appears (disappearance of ortho- and clinostatic reflexes). Great caution must be exercised during the research, continuously observing the developing symptoms, which appear within 2-5 minutes (dilation of pupils, dryness in the mouth, difficulty swallowing, cough, dryness of the skin, increased pulse). At the moment of the clear reaction, the pulse is counted, the number of beats per minute which Daniopolu takes as the quantitative expression of the sympathetic tone, while the difference between this number and the number of pulse beats before the experiment determines the tone of the parasympathetic system; in his experiments, Daniopolu administered a maximum of 0.0025 atropine. Daniopolu's method has considerable clinical-diagnostic value, as it makes it possible to determine the state of both components of the autonomic nervous system.