Blood volume and its distribution in endotoxin shock

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Abstract
Intravenous injection of Escherichia coli endotoxin into dogs with spleen caused a progressive reduction of plasma volume but not cell volume. The decrease in plasma volume was more marked in the dogs that died within 200 min. Endotoxin did not cause a decrease in plasma volume in the splenectomized dogs. The Fcells factor (ratio of over-all cell % to arterial cell %) decreased after endotoxin in dogs with or without spleen. The central blood volume decreased after endotoxin, representing a compensatory mechanism. The splanchnic blood volume, on the other hand, increased markedly in endotoxin shock, especially when the arterial pressure was reduced to less than 40% of control. Plasma loss and splanchnic pooling are factors contributing to circulatory deterioration in endotoxin shock.