[The mechanism of action of opiate antagonists in experimental traumatic shock]

Acute experiments on 86 adult rabbits have shown that in the early period of Cannon's traumatic shock nalophine and naloxone relieve torpidity, restore motor activity and responses to standard stimuli. This prolongs the animal life (nalorphine) and increases the survivability (naloxone). However in some rabbits a premature relief of torpidity (0.5 mg/kg of nalorphine) precipitates the animal death. It is concluded that in the late period the drugs exert no effect on the shock outcome and that inactivation of opioid suppression system can either trigger the mechanism of shock withdrawal or promote a reduction of its severity.