Techniques for measuring changes in body fluid compartments after SEB injection i.v. in conscious rhesus monkeys are described and compared with base line values measured by identical techniques in normal monkeys. Although few changes were observed in body fluid volumes 3h after i.v. staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB; 1 mg/kg), the F cell ratio and all fluid compartments except for RBC volume were decreased significantly by 5 h after i.v. SEB administration. Rapid intracellular dehydration and decreases in plasma and blood volumes appear to play a role in the development of circulatory shock during enterotoxemia in monkeys.

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