Studies on Severe Alcohol Intoxication in Dogs. II. Mechanisms Involved in the Production of Hyperglycemia, Hypokalemia and Hemoconcentration

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Abstract
The ganglionic blocking agent, hexa-methonium chloride, decreased significantly the degree of alcohol-induced hyperglycemia and hypokalemia in the majority of 10 dogs studied. The increase in hematocrit values in intoxicated hexamethonium-treated dogs was not different from that observed in dogs given only alcohol. After splenectomy, alcohol still elevated the hematocrit values in 10 dogs, although to a significantly lesser degree than in intact dogs. Contraction of the exteriorized spleen of 2 dogs coincided with the increase in plasma glucose and hematocrit and hemoglobin values. All of these phenomena may be related, at least in part, to an increased release of epinephrine and norepinephrine induced by alcohol intoxication.