Protection of Functional and Vascular Integrity of the Spleen in Traumatic Shock by Denervation. ∗

Abstract

Summary

In dogs with part of the spleen denervated, the morphologic and functional injury that shock inflicts is restricted to the non-denervated part of the spleen. The de-nervated part escapes injury because denervation prevents release of norepinephrine from its stores. It is the norepinephrine released in the innervated tissue that accounts for the injury to this tissue, including its vascular muscle, and hence for the progressive failure of the circulation of the non-denervated animal. The circulating catecholamines do not play a significant role in production of this injury or in the vascular collapse and death.