Progress in clinical and biological research
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Prog. Clin. Biol. Res. · Jan 1989
Comparative StudyRole of the microcirculation to skeletal muscle during shock.
Our laboratory has performed a number of experiments to outline the role of the skeletal muscle microcirculation during hemorrhage and sepsis. We have suggested that the transition from the compensated to decompensated state in hemorrhagic shock could be attributed to the loss of vascular smooth muscle tone in small precapillary arterioles. This loss of tone is not due to a decrease in vascular smooth muscle reactivity to norepinephrine. ⋯ Overall skeletal muscle vascular tone is due to a balance of vasoconstrictor influences that predominate in large arterioles which appear to be mediated by adrenergic nerve activity and vasodilator influences in small arterioles which are due to an escape from adrenergic nerve activity along with activation of local control factors by mediators of the inflammatory process, such as complement. The initial vasodilator response appears to be mediated by release of EDRF from the endothelial cell. Prostaglandins but not histamine or serotonin appear to be important in the initiation of vasodilation in small arterioles and in the modulation of existing vasoconstricting influences.