[Alpha-mercaptopropionylglycine in the experimental hemorrhagic shock animal model]

Oxygen radicals may have an important role in the shock process. Several studies showed that stimulated polymorphological granulocytes altered biological membranes to a varying degree, especially in the pulmonary circulation. It could be demonstrated on isolated mitochondria that substances of the thiol group carrying SH-groups are capable of counteracting this damaging influence of toxic O2-metabolites. Furthermore the use of the thiol reagents was associated with an improvement in the mitochondrial energy situation (adenosine triphosphate increase). A total of 12 dogs were included into the study. Using standardised conditions haemorrhagic shock was induced by controlled bleeding. After reaching a mean blood pressure of 40 mmHg and a stabilisation of this stage, alternatively either 250 mg of alpha-mercaptopropionylglycine (therapy group T) or an equivalent volume of physiologic saline (controls K) were administered at random. In the dogs on controlled respiration the effect of the above-mentioned substance upon the haemodynamic of the total organism was monitored by means of continuous measuring of the arterial pressure by a Swan-Ganz catheter. Furthermore the acid-base balance, the electrolytes sodium, potassium and calcium were analyzed. Whereas the sodium and potassium values as well as the acid-base balance did not show any difference between both groups, the haemodynamic parameters partly showed very distinct differences, however, without being statistically significant in most cases. The administration of the thiol reagent (group T) led to a reduction in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, peripheral resistance and rate-pressure product. As far as the survival rate at the end of the study was concerned, no difference between the control and therapy group was seen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)