Abstract
In this research unanesthetized cats were used. The spinal cord was cut in each case in the thoracic region. All operative work was done under general ether anesthesia after which the anesthetic was discontinued for 5 to 24 hours before the injection of epinephrine. In these animals dilute solutions of epinephrine in small amounts injected in the same way caused in some animals a fall, in others no change, and in still others a rise in blood pressure.
Small doses of epinephrine invariably caused an increase in the rate of blood flow in skeletal muscles irrespective of the change in blood pressure. Large closes of epinephrine rapidly injected intravenously caused an increase in blood pressure accompanied by a decrease in rate of blood flow in skeletal muscle. Following the rise the blood pressure fell below the normal level and simultaneously with it a marked increase in the rate of blood flow through the muscles was observed.
These results upon unanesthetized cats confirm the findings in anesthetized and decerebrated ones-in that epinephrine produces a dilatation of the blood vessels in one region of the body at the same time that it causes vaso-constriction in other regions, and the blood pressure recorded is the stronger effect minus the weaker.
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