Some Effects of a Cardioactive Fraction Isolated from Human Blood Plasma on the Peripheral Circulation of the Dog

Abstract

Using dogs on heart-lung bypass and perfused hind-limb preparations, the effect of the relatively low molecular weight cardioactive plasma fraction on the peripheral circulation of dogs was investigated. This cardioactive plasma fraction raised the arterial blood pressure of dogs on bypass and increased the perfusion pressure in hind-limb preparations. The raised arterial pressure was found to be associated with increased blood flow through the coronary and splanchnic beds; flow through the hind limb decreased. Adrenalectomyand nephrectomy did not abolish these peripheral effects of this plasma fraction. It is concluded that the raised systemic arterial pressures recorded from intact animals following the injection of this plasma fraction may result, in part, from the effect on the peripheral circulation.