Effect of Cortical Hormone upon Blood Pressure in Shock Induced by Massive Doses of Adrenalin

Previous work 1 led to the conclusion that cortical hormone exerts a direct effect upon the low blood pressure in shock induced by stripping the intestine. The pressor action of the hormone appeared to be more or less independent of serum electrolyte and associated blood volume changes. The present experiments on adrenalin shock lend further support to these conclusions.

Five adrenalectomized dogs were used. They were active, vigorous, at peak weight and indistinguishable from intact animals. No hormone was administered 18 hours previous to use in the experiments. Table I shows that they had normal blood pressures, blood concentration and serum electrolytes. These dogs were given 20-40 cc. of either 1-3000 or 1-5000 solution of adrenalin (diluted with either 0.9 NaCl or 5.5% glucose) by continuous or intermittent intravenous infusion. The time interval ranged from 20-60 minutes. The animals were table trained and no anesthetic was used since the slow injection did not cause pain or discomfort. Occasionally a dog would retch or vomit if the adrenalin was given too fast. Arterial pressures were recorded by the needle puncture method 2 during injection and frequently thereafter. The essential data obtained from study of a representative case are given in Table I.

The arterial pressure which is high during adrenalin administration may abruptly decline to a low level shortly after cessation of injection, or the fall may be slow but steady. The animals do not show any signs of revival from shock, unless treated. They are unable to spontaneously raise the lowered blood pressure. Eight intact dogs which received approximately equivalent quantities of adrenalin per kg. body weight, given at the rate of 0.5 cc. perminute, died within 10 hours.