Sympathetico-adrenergic influences on the small intestinal vascular reactions in experimental septic shock

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Abstract
Vascular reactions in the small intestine and the possible role of sympathetico-adrenergic influences were studied in 23 cats. The small intestinal blood flow was estimated using a drop counting technique. In 1 series of cats (n = 7) the small intestine and the adrenal glands had intact vascular and nervous supply; in another series (n = 7) the small intestine was sympathetically denervated and the adrenal vessels ligated, and in a 3rd series (n = 9) the small intestine was innervated but the adrenal vessels ligated. The septic state was induced by i.v. infusion of live Escherichia coli bacteria for 2 h. The small intestinal blood flow decreased and intestinal blood flow resistance increased in all series within 3 min on bacterial infusion. The intestinal vasoconstriction was maintained in cats with intestinal denervation as well as in cats with the adrenal vessels ligated, favoring that other humoral factors than catecholamines are involved. During the later phase of bacteremic shock the intestinal blood flow remained in the preseptic range in the series with a denervated small intestine and ligated adrenals as well as in intact cats, but declined gradually and significantly in cats with adrenal ligation only. This pattern of reactions favors a local rather than remote sympathetico-adrenal influence.