Abstract
It is well known that changes in the balance of calcium and potassium ions may produce definite effects upon the neurocellular responses of animals and man. Warnant, 1 and Thornton and Gillespie 2 have shown that such alterations in the concentration of these ions may influence the bronchiolar reactions of the isolated perfused lungs of animals; addition of calcium to or a reduction of potassium in the perfusion fluid resulting in bronchoconstriction. With magnesium alone Warnant obtained bronchodilation. In intact animals, Anderson and Rosenau 3 showed that magnesium did not in any way affect the fatal outcome of anaphylactic shock.
The experiments here recorded were undertaken to obtain further knowledge concerning the value of calcium, potassium, and magnesium salts as protective agents against the symptoms of anaphylactic shock. Thirty-three sensitized guinea pigs were used: 15 animals were injected with calcium lactate (0.7 to 1.5 gm. per kilo), 9 with potassium chloride (20 to 30 mg. per kilo.) and 9 with magnesium sulphate (0.7 to 1.0 gm. per kilo). The salts were administered intramuscularly and the dosage so chosen that a maximum effect would result without masking the symptoms of shock. The interval of time between the injection of the salt and the critical dose of horse serum varied from 20 to 40 minutes. That the doses selected were large was shown by the death of a number of unsensitized control animals within 24 to 48 hours after the salts were given. Magnesium sulphate usually produced marked muscular relaxation and some anesthetic effect; calcium and potassium however, gave rise to no immediately discernible clinical symptoms.
The technic used for sensitization and production of shock was the same as that recorded in previous studies: the animals were sensitized by the intraperitoneal injection of 1 cc. horse serum, and shocked after an incubation period of 2 to 3 weeks by the intracardiac injection of 0.5 cc. serum.
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