Opiate receptors and endorphins in the pathophysiology of hemorrhagic shock
Gurll, N.J.; Vargish, T.; Reynolds, D.G.; Lechner, R.B.
Surgery 89(3): 364-369
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0039-6060 PMID: 6258256 Document Number: 175818
We investigated the hypothesis that endorphins released by stress act on opiate receptors to depress cardiovascular function during hemorrhagic shock. Anesthetized adult mongrel dogs were bled into a heparinized reservoir to achieve a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 45 mm Hg. The reservoir was adjusted to maintain MAP for 1 hour and then clamped for 1 hour, at the end of which time the shed blood was reinfused. While the reservoir was clamped we treated the animals with an intravenous bolus followed by 3-hour infusion of either 0.9% NaCl (as control) or the specific opiate receptor antagonist naloxone at three dose regimens (0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg plus 0.5, 1, or 2 mg/kg . hr). Naloxone produced dose-dependent increases in MAP, cardiac output, stroke volume, and left ventricular contractility. Survival at 72 hours was related to the dose of naloxone used. None of six dogs treated at 0 mg/kg . hr survived, one of six survived at 0.5 mg/kg . hr, four of five at 1 mg/kg . hr, and five of five at 2 mg/kg . hr. Since naloxone has minimal effect on cardiovascular function in nonshocked dogs, these results implicate opiate receptors and perhaps endorphins in the cardiovascular pathophysiology of hemorrhagic shock.