There is controversy concerning the efficacy of
ATP-MgCl2 in improving survival following
hemorrhagic shock. To resolve this issue, the effect of
ATP-MgCl2 infusion on survival following
shock was reinvestigated. Rats were bled to and maintained at a mean arterial blood pressure of 40 mmHg for 90 min. Following reinfusion of the remaining shed blood, the animals were treated with
ATP-MgCl2 (25 mumoles each) or saline. Survival was measured in one group of animals, and in another group of animals reticuloendothelial (RE) function was determined with 131I gelatinized test
lipid emulsion in search of the mechanism of the beneficial effect of
ATP-MgCl2 following
hemorrhagic shock. The results indicate that survival was significantly improved if the animals were treated with
ATP-MgCl2 following
hemorrhagic shock. In addition, RE function, which was markedly depressed following
hemorrhagic shock, was significantly improved by
ATP-MgCl2 treatment, indicating that the beneficial effect of
ATP-MgCl2 for
hemorrhagic shock could be through the improvement of RE function.