The sequence of hepatic microcirculatory and rheological events induced by shock in the rat

Abstract

Hepatic microcirculatory alterations were observed in rats after shock from hemorrhage and exposure. The time sequence of events was described and criteria were proposed for evaluating the degree of the microcirculatory defect as a basis for comparison with histological studies. A plasma dye, T–1824, was used to distinguish closely packed, aggregated red cell masses from blood containing a relatively normal proportion of plasma. The relation of hepatic cellular aggregation to previously described hepatic morphologic lesion and to the development of increased organ resistance was discussed.