DESOXYCORTICOSTERONE AS A PROPHYLACTIC FORETREATMENT FOR THE PREVENTION OF CIRCULATORY FAILURE FOLLOWING HEMORRHAGE AND SURGICAL TRAUMA IN THE ADRENALECTOMIZED DOG

Abstract

Desoxycorticosterone acetate (D.C.A.) used as a prophylactic protects the adrenalectomized dog against circulatory failure following hemorrhage. Approx. twice as much blood can be removed before the blood pressure falls to shock levels. Throughout the major part of the hemorrhage, the pressure remains normal or above in the D.C.A. treated animals, while in the dogs from which extract had been withheld for 24 hrs. the blood pressure drops gradually but continuously from the time of the first bleeding. Both during and following hemorrhage the blood is rapidly diluted from the extra-vascular tissues in the D.C.A. primed dog, whereas the untreated animal shows no dilution. The arterial pressure spontaneously returns to normal in the primed dog, but the animal lacking hormone exhibits little or no elevation of pressure from shock levels. D.C.A., unlike cortical extract, is noneffective in preventing the circulatory collapse following surgical trauma incident to a single stage bilateral adrenalectomy. Local blocking of the nervous elements in the proximity of the adrenals before their removal prevents the onset of circulatory failure. Animals so treated with novocaine infiltration at time of operation can be maintained on small doses of D.C.A.