ACUTE COCAINE INTOXICATION IN THE CONSCIOUS DOG - PATHOPHYSIOLOGIC PROFILE OF ACUTE LETHALITY

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 235  (2) , 328-340
Abstract
Cocaine HCl was infused i.v. to conscious mongrel dogs until death (0.5 mg/kg per min; 0.82 ml/min). All animals convulsed (mean convulsive dose: 12 .+-. 1 mg/kg) and died approximately 42 min after the beginning of cocaine infusion (mean lethal dose: 21 .+-. 2 mg/kg). All animals exhibited significant increases in arterial systolic and diastolic pressures, left ventricular pressure, cardiac output, heart rate, respiratory rate, minute volume, tidal volume, O2 uptake, plasma glucose, blood lactate and body temperature. Statistically significant reductions from pre-drug control levels were observed in total peripheral resistance, arterial pH, and arterial pO2 [oxygen tension].