Abstract
Summary
This report describes the extent to which 108 D. pneumoniae organisms, administered iv, caused changes in heart rate, body temperature, and myocardial contractility in five of six conscious, chair-restrained mature rhesus monkeys. Within 16 hr after pneumococcal infection, hyperthermia, tachycardia, and decreased cardiac contractility were observed. All parameters returned to relatively normal levels 4 days postinfection. It is unknown why myocardial depression occurred coincident with febrile response and tachycardia.
We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Robert Baker, Keith Bond, and Steve Kinzer. Gratitude is also expressed to Dr. Alan Rowberg for statistical analysis, Mrs. Phebe Summers for medical illustrations, Mr. Wallace Fee for providing cultured organisms, and Mr. Dennis Leatherman for bacteremia analysis.
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