title: Restitution of blood volume after hemorrhage: role of the adrenal cortex.
abstract: Splenectomized and adrenalectomized-splenectomized dogs, anesthetized with pentobarbital, were bled so that the role of cortisol in restitution of blood volume could be examined. Intact dogs and adrenalectomized dogs infused with cortisol at a high rate (17 mug/min) showed restoration of blood volume and plasma protein at 24 h, preceded by an early increase in plasma osmolality. Adrenalectomized dogs infused with cortisol at basal rates (2 mug/min) showed no increase in plasma osmolality and no restoration of blood volume or plasma protein at 24 h unless extracellular fluid volume was expanded by exogenous fluid. It is concluded that hemorrhage leads to an increase in extracellular osmolality mediated in part by increased cortisol concentrations. As a consequence, there is a shift of intracellular fluid to the interstitium. The resulting increase in interstitial pressure accelerates lymphatic movement of interstitial protein to the vascular system. This results in a reequilibration of extracellular fluid toward the plasma, thus completing the restitution of blood volume. The osmotically active agents mobilized by cortisol do not appear to be glucose, sodium, or potassium.
mesh_terms: D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001798:Blood Proteins; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000187:drug effects; D004285:Dogs; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D001798:Blood Proteins; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium; D006854:Hydrocortisone