Abstract
Summary and conclusions
A shock-like state was produced in rats by applying rubber band tourniquets to the limbs for a certain length of time and then releasing them. A progressive increase in blood amino acid and urea nitrogen occurred after the release of the tourniquets. Application of the rubber band per se had no effect on these blood constituents but was found to cause a definite stimulation of the adrenal cortex as indicated by a lowering of the adrenal cholesterol content. Release of the tourniquets produced a further decline in the adrenal cholesterol content. The “sparing” effect of 0.9% NaCl administration in lowering mortality of rats during “tourniquet shock” was found to be associated with a decrease in the elevation of blood amino acid concentration and in the fall of the adrenal cholesterol content when compared with untreated animals.
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