Differentiation of Pulmonafry Congestion and Edema in the Rat, Induced by Epinephrine, and Their Modification by Various Procedures.

Abstract

1. Infusion of epinephrine, intravenously, into rats at a rate which maintained the mean arterial pressure at the maximum level that could be attained free of cardiac irregularities for 25-35 minutes resulted in formation of marked pulmonary edema and congestion in most animals anesthetized with ether and in congestion only in animals anesthetized with pentobarbital. 2. A method is presented for differentiating quantitatively between the relative amount of edema and congestion developed. 3. Positive pressure breathing invariably reduced or prevented the congestive effects of epinephrine in the lungs in rats anesthetized with ether and those anesthetized with pentobarbital. 4. Atropine reduced congestion in rats anesthetized with pentobarbital and apparently aggravated congestion in rats anesthetized with ether. 5. The combined use of atropine and positive pressure breathing prevented the development of pulmonary edema or congestion in rats anesthetized with ether.