Acute Arterial Plethora

Abstract

Summary

(1) These experiments were carried out in an effort to confirm a previous report of the production of an acute arterial and arteriolar necrosis in the rat by sudden brief increases in intra-arterial pressure. Twelve rats were subjected to such an experiment. These animals were given rapid injections of saline or Ringer's solution into the common carotid artery. Increases in peripheral arterial pressure during and immediately following injections of fluid were not detected by indirect measurement of blood pressure. (2) In no instance was there evidence of vascular abnormalities other than those which could be explained on a basis of pre-existing pyelonephritis. The existence of pyelonephritis in both experimental and control groups depended on the age of the animals and was seen exclusively in the older age groups. There was no correlation between the vascular lesions and the total volume of fluid injected in the experimental group. (3) Neither acute necrosis nor inflammation of the arteries or arterioles was produced in the rat by a sudden brief episode of hypervolemia. The brief rise in intra-arterial pressure that occurs during the rapid injection of fluid does not produce detectable changes in peripheral arterial pressure. These observations are not in accord with the report of Byrom and Dodson.