beta 2-Adrenergic control of plasma volume in hemorrhage

Hemorrhage is associated with absorption of extravascular fluid from skeletal muscle to blood in order to compensate for the loss of intravascular volume. Our previous studies have shown that this fluid gain is mainly linked to beta-adrenergic microvascular adjustments leading to decrease in capillary hydrostatic pressure and to precapillary 'sphincter' mediated increase in the capillary surface area available for fluid exchange. In the present study the importance of beta-adrenergic control of plasma volume in bleeding was confirmed by measurement of changes in plasma volume after graded hemorrhage in animals with intact and blocked vascular beta 2-adrenoceptors (i.v. administration of the 'selective' beta 2-blocking agent ICI 118, 551). With intact beta 2-adrenoceptors plasma volume was gradually restored after bleeding so that about 50% of the shed plasma volume (about 35% of the shed blood volume) had been compensated for at two hours after exsanguination of 20% as well as 40% of the blood volume. The corresponding figures in animals with blocked beta 2-adrenoceptors were only 14% of the shed plasma volume and 8% of the shed blood volume at both degrees of hemorrhage.