Abstract
The intravenous administration of epinephrine, as is well known, results in reduction of the kidney volume by reason of the vasoconstrictor action of the drug. Reversal of this reaction following the administration of ergotamine tartrate in small doses has been amply demonstrated. 1 , 2 The experimental results here reported demonstrate the reactions of the kidney to reflex stimulation of its vaso-motor nerves by means of other agents and to direct splanchnic stimulation both before and after the administration of ergotamine tartrate.
The experiments have been carried out on dogs under morphine-urethane and cats under nembutal anesthesia. Acetyl-beta methyl-choline chloride was administered to the dogs by means of iontophoresis. In the cats all the drugs used were administered intravenously. In the experiments carried out on the dogs, the changes in kidney volume, blood pressure and urine output were recorded; in those carried out on the cats the records included changes in kidney volume, blood pressure and limb volume.
The typical effects of acetyl-beta methylcholine chloride administered by iontophoresis in dogs is a very short preliminary rise in kidney volume, followed by a fall corresponding to the fall in general blood pressure, and reduction in the urine output until after a few minutes it consists of an occasional drop. The duration of these experiments was about one hour. A current of 40 milliamperes was applied for 6 minutes. The output of urine is restored as soon as the blood pressure commences to rise toward the normal. When the blood pressure has returned to normal, the kidney volume increases until it rises above that recorded initially and returns to the initial level at the end of 5 to 10 minutes.
According to Harriet, 3 the initial rise in kidney volume and the secondary rise after the return of the systemic blood pressure to normal are both definite vasodilator responses of the kidney caused by acetylcholine.
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