Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Influence of age on the cardiovascular response during graded haemorrhage in anaesthetized rats

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Research in Experimental Medicine

Abstract

The present study was designed to follow the cardiovascular response to graded haemorrhage in two groups of adult rats of different ages. Group A (n=10) had a mean body weight (bwt) of 655 g (50 weeks old) and group B (n=10) had a mean bwt of 250 g (12 weeks old). After induction of anaesthesia, the carotid artery was cannulated for continuous intra-arterial blood pressure monitoring and for controlled haemorrhage. Five per cent of the total blood volume (TBV) was removed every 15 min until a maximum of 50% was reached. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) fell by 4–9 mm Hg each time 5% TBV was removed in both groups, and at the end of the study the MAP was comparable in the two groups (34±10 mm Hg in group A and 28±8 mm Hg in group B). There were no significant changes in heart rate (HR) in the young animals during haemorrhage, while there was a significant drop in heart rate in the older animals when blood loss exceeded 15% of TBV (P<0.05). A significant difference was also observed in HR between the two groups of animals with blood loss in excess of 20% TBV (P<0.05). It was concluded that although the hypotension induced by graded haemorrhage was similar in young and old rats, the older animals were less able to maintain their HR, probably as a consequence of age- and anaesthetic-related changes in sympathetic activity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Abboud FM (1979) Integration of reflex responses in the control of blood pressure and vascular resistance. Am J Cardiol 44:903–911

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Bayshtok V, Hanf C (1988) Hemorrhagic shock. Anesthesiol Clin North Am 6:119–134

    Google Scholar 

  3. Crippen D, Safar P, Snyder C, Porter L (1991) Dying pattern in volume-controlled hemorrhagic shock in awake rats. Resuscitation 21:259–270

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Ganong WF (1983) Circulation. In: Ganong WF (ed) Review of medical physiology, 11th edn. Launge, Los Altos, Calif, pp 510–515

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gerstenblith G, Lakatta EG, Weisfeld ML (1976) Age changes in myocardial function and exercise response. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 19:1–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Gey KF, Burkhard WP, Pletscher A (1965) Variation of the norepinephrine metabolism of the rat heart with age. Gerontologia 11:1–11

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Goldberg PA, Kreider MS, McLean MR, Roberts J (1986) Effects of aging at the adrenergic cardiac neuroeffector junction. Fed Proc 45:45–47

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Guyton AC (1977) An overall analysis of cardiovascular regulation. Anesth Analg 56:761–768

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Jönson C, Holm L, Jansson T, Fändriks L (1990) Effects of hypovolemia on blood flow, arterial [HCO −3 ], and HCO −3 output in the rat duodenum. Am J Physiol 259:G179-G183

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Kirkman E, Little R (1988) The pathophysiology of trauma and shock. Baillières Clin Anaesthesiol 2:467–481

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Lakatta EG, Gerstenblith GS, Angell CS, Shock NW, Weisfeld ML (1975) Diminished inotropic response of aged myocardium to cathecholamines. Circ Res 36:262–269

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lewis T (1932) Vasovagal syncope and the carotid sinus mechanism. BMJ 1:873–876

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Little RA, Marshall HW, Kirkman E (1989) Attenuation of the acute cardiovascular responses to haemorrhage by tissue injury in the conscious rat. Q J Exp Physiol 74:825–833

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mazzeo RS, Grantham PA (1989) Sympathetic response to exercise in various tissues with advancing age. J Appl Physiol 66:1506–1508

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Mazzeo RS, Horvath SM (1981) A decline in myocardial and hepatic norepinephrine turnover with age in Fischer 344 rats. J Physiol (Lond) 252:E762-E764

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mazzeo RS, Colburn RW, Horvath SM (1986) Effect of aging and endurance training on tissue catecholamine responses to strenuous exercise in Fischer 344 rats. Metabolism 35: 602–607

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. McGlew MJ, Safar P, Stremple P (1991) A simple survival model of volume-controlled hemorrhagic shock in awake rats. Resuscitation 21:247–257

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Redfern WS, Little RA, Stoner HB, Marshall HW (1984) Effect of limb ischaemia on blood pressure and the blood pressure-heart rate reflex in the rat. Q J Exp Physiol 60:763–779

    Google Scholar 

  19. Roberts J, Goldberg PB (1976) Changes in basic cardiovascular activities during the lifetime of the rat. Exp Aging Res 2:487–517

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Rocha E, Silva MR, Velasco IT (1992) Hemorrhagic shock: new experimental models and prehospital care. Curr Opin Anaesthesiol 5:258–262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Schadt JC, Ludbrook J (1991) Hemodynamic and neurohumoral responses to acute hypovolemia in conscious mammals. Am J Physiol 260:373–381

    Google Scholar 

  22. Secher NH, Bie P (1985) Bradycardia during reversible haemorrhagic shock—a forgotten observation? Clin Physiol 5:315–323

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Secher NH, Sander-Jensen K, Werner C, Warberg J, Bie P (1984) Bradycardia during severe but reversible hypovolemic shock in man. Circ Shock 14:267–274

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Seyde WC, Longnecker DE (1984) Anesthetic influences on regional hemodynamics in normal and hemorrhaged rats. Anesthesiology 61:686–698

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Steinam RM, Denstedt OF (1969) Experimental production of hemorrhagic shock in the rat. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 47:305–310

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sykes MK, Adams AP, Finlay WEI, Wightman AE, Munroe JP (1970) The cardiorespiratory effects of haemorrhage and overtransfusion in dogs. Br J Anaesth 42:573–583

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Wallenstein S, Zuckner CL, Fleiss JL (1980) Some statistical methods useful in circulation research. Circ Res 47:1–9

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wayonforth HB (1980) Experimental and surgical technique in the rat. Academic Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  29. Weil MH, Whigham H (1965) Corticosteroids for reversal of hemorrhagic shock in rats. Am J Physiol 209:815–818

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Weiskopf RB, Townsley MI, Riordan KK, Chadwick K, Baysinger M, Mahoney E (1981) Comparison of cardiopulmonary responses to graded hemorrhage during enflurane, halothane, isoflurane and ketamine anesthesia. Anesth Analg 60:481–491

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Weiss HR, Levy PJ, Kleinert HD, Murthy VS (1978) Alterations in brain and muscle oxygenation during hypovolemia and replacement with plasma substitutes in rats. Circ Shock 5:115–124

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Wiggers HC, Inhraham RC, Dille J (1945) Hemorrhagic-hypotension shock in locally anesthetized dogs. Am J Physiol 143:126–133

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plastic Surgery, University of Berne, Inselspital, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Andrej Banic

  2. Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Berne, Inselspital, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland

    Gisli H. Sigurdsson

  3. Department of Visceral Surgery, University of Berne, Inselspital, CH-3010, Berne, Switzerland

    Anthony M. Wheatley

Authors
  1. Andrej Banic
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gisli H. Sigurdsson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Anthony M. Wheatley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Banic, A., Sigurdsson, G.H. & Wheatley, A.M. Influence of age on the cardiovascular response during graded haemorrhage in anaesthetized rats. Res. Exp. Med. 193, 315–321 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02576239

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02576239

Key words

Search

Navigation