No abstract

Nonstandard abbreviations: 2-pyridine aldoxime methyl chloride (2-PAM), antiseizure drug (ASD), CounterACT Neurotherapeutics Screening (CNS), Countermeasures Against Chemical Threats (CounterACT), dexmedetomidine (DMT), diisopropyl-phosphate (DFP), electroencephalogram (EEG), Fluoro-Jade B (FJB), memantine (MEM), midazolam (MDZ), N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), organophosphate (OP), organophosphate nerve agent (OPNA), phenobarbital (PHB), Potassium permanganate (KMnO₄), Rapid Anticonvulsant Medication Prior to Arrival Trial (RAMPART), region of interest (ROI), status epilepticus (SE).

We describe a new combination of techniques for measurements of systemic blood pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary arterial (PA) pressure, PA wedge pressure, and cardiac output in the rat. Application of the method to the conscious rat in a septic shock (Escherichia coli endotoxin iv injection) model demonstrated a response pattern of decreased cardiac output and stroke volume, increased total peripheral vascular resistance and heart rate, and transiently decreased systemic arterial pressure. In the pulmonary circulation, a very brief hypertension and a sustained increase in pulmonary vascular resistance were observed, but changes in PA wedge pressure were small. The soft PA catheter (0.3 mm ID, 0.6 mm OD) had no undue effects on cardiovascular function. We suggest that this combined technique could be useful for many cardiovascular studies in the rat, not only as related to shock research.

To investigate the interplay between endotoxin-induced circulatory shock and the cardiovascular effects of different doses of isoflurane, mean aortic pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), mean pulmonary arterial pressure (MPAP), heart rate (HR), cardiac output and superior mesenteric artery flow (SMAF), were monitored in rats anesthetized with either 1.4% or 2.0% isoflurane in oxygen. Cardiac index (Cl), total peripheral vascular resistance (TPR) and superior mesenteric vascular resistance (SMVR) were derived. During continuous administration of isoflurane, endotoxin (LD90, 40 mg X kg-1 iv) was given after a 30-min baseline period, and data were collected for an additional 2-h period. Sham-challenged (saline) animals served as controls. The response to endotoxin in the systemic circulation showed a decrease in Cl and MAP, while HR and TPR increased. MPAP and CVP were essentially unchanged. There were no significant differences in the systemic circulation variables between endotoxin groups, apart from a more pronounced HR increase during 1.4% isoflurane. Regionally, however, SMAF was lower and SMVR was higher in the 2.0% versus the 1.4% isoflurane group following endotoxin. To conclude, the degree of mesenteric vasoconstriction during endotoxemia was dependent on the dose of isoflurane. This dose-related effect seems to be mediated through interaction with intrinsic vascular control, a higher dose allowing a more pronounced local blood flow reduction.