[Effect of adrenaline on the peripheral circulation of men of various ages]

The response to adrenalin of vessels of large, middle and small caliber was investigated in young adults, middle-aged and old human beings by means of the arteriopiezography, rheography, capillaroscopy and capillarophotography. Adrenalin was injected in doses of 0,2 and 0,5 mg intramuscularly, and doses of 0,1 to 0,0000001 mg intradermically. It was established that the response of the vascular system to adrenaline is significantly increased in the middle-aged and elderly individuals. This increased response finds expression in an accelerated dilation speed of the vessels of elastic or muscular type, and in still more evident changes in the rheographic measurements and capillaroscopic aspect of the older individuals. Different vascular reactions-times after the injection of adrenaline were observed in the different age groups. The peculiar physiologic response to adrenalin in the aged, and the vascular reactivity of several different territories, were also discussed.