Cortisone Fore-Treatment of Adrenalectomized Rats Infused With Globin and Dextran

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Abstract
Intraven. infusions of globin and dextran are uniformly fatal to the 24-hr. adrenalectomized rat but not to the intact animal. The rats exhibit edema, cyanosis and circulatory failure. 5 days fore-treatment with adequate doses of cortisone affords protection against death and cyanosis but not against edema. DCA is ineffective by itself, but when given along with small, but inadequate doses of cortisone, the combination is highly efficacious. Microscopic study of the peripheral circulation of the mesoappendix of the globin and dextran-infused animals indicates that death is apparently due to progressive slowing of the peripheral circulation, pooling and sequestration of blood in the capillaries, incomplete venous return, stasis and eventually complete circulatory collapse. One probable locus of action of cortisone appears to be upon the vascular periphery by maintaining the integrity and responsiveness of the minute vessels and hence a normal circulation.