Effects of Adrenergic Neuron and Ganglion Blockers on Hemodynamics and Plasma Catecholamine Levels after Corticosteroids during Hemorrhagic Shock in the Dog

The involvement of adrenergic mechanisms in the ability of massive doses of methylprednisolone to potentiate the vasodilatory effects of phenoxybenzamine during controlled hemorrhagic shock was investigated. Dogs were subjected to ligation of the adrenals and, with the exception of the controls, were pretreated with either hexamethonium or bretylium. Despite careful surgery, the adrenal ligation, per se, failed to alter the concentration of plasma catecholamines. Hexamethonium and bretylium, on the other hand, both decreased the levels of plasma catecholamines: noradrenaline to a greater extent than adrenaline. Methylprednisolone was almost ineffective after ganglionic or adrenergic neuron blockade. Furthermore, the degree of vasodilation after methylprednisolone and phenoxybenzamine seemed to correlate better with plasma noradrenaline than with adrenaline. These findings indicate that the ability of methylprednisolone to induce vasodilation in the presence of adrenergic alpha-receptor blockade in hypovolemic shock in the dog relies on an intact release of noradrenaline from postganglionic adrenergic nerve terminals.