The Vasodilator Properties of a Pancreatic Extract. ∗

Summary

1. Pancreatic extract in concentrations of 0.2 to 1% causes a transient but significant increase in coronary sinus outflow in the denervated and innervated heart-lung preparation. 2. Femoral blood flow in anesthetized cats may be increased by 100 to 650% following doses of 0.005 to 0.02 cc of pancreatic extract injected intra-arterially. The effect lasts no more than 2 or 3 minutes. 3. Doses of 1 cc of pancreatic extract cause a transient dilatation of the arterial bed of the perfused dog head. 4. Doses of 0.01 cc have no regular effect upon arterial pressure when injected intravenously into anesthetized cats. Doses of 0.1 cc cause a 50% fall in arterial pressure lasting only one or 2 minutes, followed by a rise of 25 to 30% above the control level lasting for 3 or 4 minutes. Femoral blood flow appears to follow passively the arterial pressure; vasodilatation probably occurs chiefly in the visceral vascular beds.