Toxic substances in the muscles shock-producing substances

Abstract

1. The muscular extracts, obtained by alcohol treatment, were filtered, and then concentrated by ebullition until 10 g. pf tissue became equivalent to 1 c. c. These extracts exert a noticeable hypotensive effect in the dog, with a subsequent shock condition, which several hours after the injection of from 70 to 150 c. c. of the extract may lead to death. The ether or with distillated water treated extracts were scarcely active.

2. The arterial pressure drops following the intravenous injection of less than 1 c. c. of the extract for each 3 kg. body weight are due to the histamine, as is evident from the fact that histamine diphosphate injections at a proportion of 3 c. c. of extract = 0,1 mg. of basic histamine, yield a similar pressure curve. Furthermore, when the extracts are incubated wid renal pap, they become inactivated by the histaminase, whereas the synthetical antihistaminic substances (e. g. Benadryl or Pyribenzamine) lessen the intensity of the pressure fall, thus increasing the resistance against the induction of shock.

3. Death from cardiac arrest following the intravenous injection of more than 1 c. c. of extract for each 3 kg. of the dog’s weight, is due to the potassium, as is shown by the fact that the injection of an equal amount of a 3 g. per cent potassium chloride solution (the potassium concentration of which is identical with that of the muscular extracts, i. c., 1,7 g. per cent) produces the same effect.

4. Atropine and acid hydrolysis of the extracts do not modify the curves of the arterial pressure fall; which fact permits one to discard the intervention. of acetylcholine and adenosinetriphosphate. 1,8 g. per cent disodium phosphate Solutions, which contain the same phosphorus concentration as the extracts, do not produce any symptoms when injected to dogs.

5. The electrolytic changes of the plasma of animals under shock condition provoked by the injections of extracts, are similar to those observed during traumatic shock; i. e., plasma potassium and total acid soluble phosphorus are increased. At the animal’s death following the injection of a lethal dose of extract, potassium increase is above 100 per cent, as compared with the initial values. As in traumatic shock, the cell volume may, or may not present any hemoconcentration.

6. The primary shock condition after the injection of extracts would be due to histamine, while the secondary shock and death might be attributed to the potassium.