Some Metabolic Consequences of the Anaphylactic Reaction in the Rabbit

Abstract

The administration of egg albumin to rabbits sensitized to this antigen caused marked increases in the arterial concentration of lactate, glucose and glycerol, but no change in the arterial FFA level. Antigen administration had no effect in non-sensitized rabbits. Phentolamine (3 mg/kg) or propranolol (1 mg/kg) did not significantly alter the responses to egg albumin in sensitized rabbits. Noradrenaline or sympathetic nerve stimulation decreased blood flow but caused no significant change in lipolysis in rabbit epigastric adipose tissue in situ. It is therefore questionable if catecholamines are the major cause of the observed metabolic consequences of the anaphylactic reaction in the rabbit. These metabolic events, i.e. increased lactate levels, lipolysis, and reesterification of fatty acids, are similar to those reported during hemorrhagic or endotoxin shock in dogs, in spite of specied-differences and the difference in the genesis of the shock.