Hemodynamic effects of higenamine on shock induced by endotoxin in dogs

Hemodynamic indices were determined in 13 anesthetized dogs. In 7 of them,iv injection of endotoxin(E coli 12*10(10)/mL/kg) followed by iv infusion of saline(0.05/ mL/kg/min) increased the vascular resistance, and decreased the mean arterial pressure, the stroke volume, cardiac output and cardiac index. In the other 6 dogs, iv jinfusion of higenamine (dl-demethylcoclaurine) 1 microg/kg/min after iv endotoxin caused no significant changes in blood pressure, decreased the vascular resistance and icreased the stroke volume, cardiac output and cardiac index as compared with those of the control dogs. These results suggest that higenamine improves the circulation of the endotoxin shock dogs.