Abstract
The marked lowering of blood pressure produced by the pancreatic juice of the dog when injected into the circulation of the dog, suggested that the sudden onset of prostration and collapse, symptoms indicative of vasomotor insufficiency seen clinically in acute pancreatic disease, might be due to the direct peritoneal absorption of the pancreatic juice set free in the destruction of the gland.
We have accordingly collected the pancreatic juice from anesthetized dogs by placing a canula in the duct, and the secretion so obtained was diluted with equal volumes of 0.85 per cent. salt solution and injected into the femoral or external jugular veins of the same or other dogs. Varying with the anesthetic used and directly with the blood pressure level at the time of injection, we have obtained falls of from 20 to 60 mm. Hg by injecting the equivalent of 1 c.c. of pancreatic juice. The action does not appear to depend on any primary cardiac effect. The fall is prompt and recovery to the original level occurs within 2 minutes. Pancreatic juice from which the coagulable proteins were removed by heat caused an equally marked fall in the blood pressure.
Extracts of the fresh pancreas were also prepared with the Buchner press or by simple grinding in a mortar with sand or glass and shaking with 0.85 per cent. salt solution. As a general rule 3 C.C. of the resulting solutions representing I gm. of the organ were used for single injections. The results were similar whether the solution was used at once or was kept on ice for 18 to 24 hours. Before use the solutions were cleared as far as possible by centrifugalization and filtering. Such extracts produced a fall in blood pressure averaging 30 to 50 mm. Hg.
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