Effects of Naloxone on Regional Blood Flow Distribution in Canine Hemorrhagic Shock

Abstract

The opiate antagonist naloxone increases arterial pressure, maximal left ventricular dp/dt and cardiac output when administered to dogs subjected to hemorrhagic shock. The purpose of this study was to investigate regional blood flow changes associated with naloxone treatment in anesthetized hypovolemic and normovolemic dogs. Hypovolemic dogs (n = 10) were bled over 30 min (t = −30 to t = 0) to a pressure of 45 mm Hg which was maintained for 1 hr. At t = 60, five dogs received naloxone (2 mg/kg + 2 mg/kg·hr), and five received an equal volume of saline. Regional blood flows were determined at t = −30, 45, and 90 min using 15-μm microspheres. Normovolemic dogs n = 10) were subjected to the same protocol except they were not bled. During hypovolemia, naloxone produced significant increases in myocardial, intestinal, hepatic, and adrenal blood flows whereas saline treatment did not. No significant changes in skin, muscle, fat, pancreatic, renal, or brain flows were detected. The increases in blood flow were not associated with significant changes in vascular resistance. Naloxone had no significant effects on any hemodynamic parameter during normovolemia. The beneficial effects of naloxone in hemorrhagic shock include increased blood flow to vital organs due to increased perfusion pressure which is secondary to improved cardiac performance.