Evidence for beneficial effect of intravenous glucose on the hemodynamic response to acute asphyxia

Anesthetized rabbits were subjected to two 4-min periods of asphyxia with a 15-min recovery period intervening. During the recovery period animals received an iv infusion of either isotonic glucose or mannitol. Results indicated that glucose had a beneficial effect on systolic blood pressure during the second period of asphyxia. A direct metabolic action of glucose on the myocardium is favored as the explanation, but other possibilities include peripheral or neurohumoral effects.