Circulatory and respiratory consequences of massive hemorrhage are reversed by protoveratrines

In a rat model of severe hypotension and respiratory depression induced by step-wise bleeding, protoveratrines cause a prompt and sustained improvement of cardiovascular and respiratory functions, both in anesthetized and in conscious animals, seemingly through a magnification of the reflex response originated by the chemoreceptors of aortic and carotid bodies. The restoration of cardiovascular function is attributable to an increase both in total peripheral resistance and cardiac output. The finding could provide the basis for a new approach to the first-aid management of massive blood losses.     

Circulatory and respiratory consequences of massive hemorrhage are reversed by protoveratrines

Summary In a rat model of severe hypotension and respiratory depression induced by step-wise bleeding, protoveratrines cause a prompt and sustained improvement of cardiovascular and respiratory functions, both in anesthetized and in conscious animals, seemingly through a magnification of the reflex response originated by the chemoreceptors of aortic and carotid bodies. The restoration of cardiovascular function is attributable to an increase both in total peripheral resistance and cardiac output. The finding could provide the basis for a new approach to the first-aid management of massive blood losses.     

Observations expérimentales sur l'apnée acapnique chez le Chien

Summary Suppression of the chemo-receptors of the carotid sinus and aorta æreas prolongs the acapnic apnea markedly. Animals deprived of their chemo-receptors may even die in apnea.During hyperventilation, the expiratory position of the thorax increases. During the acapnic apnea the inspiratory position returns progressively to normal. During hyperventilation and acapnic apnea, rhythmic changes occur in the tonus of the respiratory muscles. These changes in tonus occur in normal animals as well as in animals deprived of their chemo-receptors and vagi nerves.In normal dogs, hyperventilation and acapnea do not induce a fall in arterial blood pressure. Arterial hypotension occurs, however, during hyperventilation in dogs deprived of their carotid sinus and aortic innervation. During acapnic apnea, the arterial blood pressure rises in animals deprived of their carotid sinus and aortic nerves. A secondary fall of arterial pressure occurs during prolonged acapnic apnea in these animals.     

Modulator role of prostaglandins (Pg) in adrenergic neurotransmission in carotid sinus]

In Rabbit carotid sinus, the presence of sympathetic nerve endings capable of releasing noradrenaline has been demonstrated. The release of NA in response to sympathetic nerve stimulation was decreased by PgE2 and a precursor of Pg (arachidonic acid) but was strongly increased by an inhibitor of Pg biosynthesis (indomethacin). The experiments carried out demonstrated that freshly synthesized Pg acts in the same way as exogenous Pg and suggested that Pg could have a regulating effect on adrenergic neurotransmission in carotid sinus. The role of this regulating mechanism in the physiology of carotid sinus has been discussed.     

Role of alpha and beta adrenoceptors in the regulation of adrenergic neurotransmission in the carotid sinus]

The experiments carried out showed the presence- in sympathetic nerve endings ot the carotid sinus- of alpha and beta adrenoceptors which by means of respective negative and positive feedback processes, modulated NA release induced by a sympathetic nerve stimulation. Similarly, Pgs acted by means of a negative feedback mechanism to regulated adrenergic neuro-transmission in carotid sinus but they could not be considered as the chemical mediators of either alpha or beta adrenoceptors.     

Suitability of urethane anesthesia for physiopharmacological investigations in various systems. Part 2: Cardiovascular system

Urethane produces a level of surgical anesthesia characterized by preservation of a number of cardiovascular reflexes. When the proper route of administration is used, and the use of unnecessarily high doses is avoided, urethane anesthesia appears to be suitable for a number of investigations at cardiovascular level. However in certain types of studies involving pharmacological stimulation of peripheral adrenoceptors urethane affects markedly the magnitude of the response under study.     

Suitability of urethane anesthesia for physiopharmacological investigations in various systems. Part 2: Cardiovascular system

Summary Urethane produces a level of surgical anesthesia characterized by preservation of a number of cardiovascular reflexes. When the proper route of administration is used, and the use of unnecessarily high doses is avoided, urethane anesthesia appears to be suitable for a number of investigations at cardiovascular level. However in certain types of studies involving pharmacological stimulation of peripheral adrenoceptors urethane affects markedly the magnitude of the response under study.     

Some species differences in cardiovascular responses to intravenously injected leucine-enkephalin

Studies were conducted to determine the cardiovascular responses to leucine-enkephalin (L-enk) in three different species of animals; rabbit, dog and monkey. All animals were anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium after sedation with ketamine. Mean blood pressure (MBP) and heart rate (HR) were simultaneously monitored. The pressor and HR responses to bilateral carotid occlusion (BCO) were determined before injection of L-enk. Increased MBP and HR due to BCO in monkey were significantly greater than in the other two animal groups. Following i.v. injection of L-enk (5-30 micrograms/kg), a significant fall in MBP occurred in all groups in a dose-dependent manner; however, the time course of changes in MBP in rabbits was significantly shorter than that in the other animal groups. Significant decreases in HR after the injection of L-enk occurred in rabbits and dogs, whereas increases in HR occurred in monkeys. These results show that some cardiovascular responses to L-enk may be species dependent. These different cardiovascular responses to L-enk may be at least partly related to species differences in baroreceptor reflex sensitivity.     

Acute physiological responses during blood substitution with colloidal gelatin in conscious rats

The effects of exchange-transfusion with a proprietary gelatin-based plasma volume expander, Haemaccel, have been investigated in conscious, chronically-catheterized rats. No adverse changes in basic cardiovascular or respiratory functions occurred during the procedure although an increase in intravascular fluid sodium but not potassium concentration was observed.