MORPHOLOGIC EFFECTS OF VASOACTIVE DRUGS

Abstract

Studies on anoxic tissue changes that result from the administration of vasoactive drugs given at a maximally tolerable dose to rats indicate that the changes in hemodynamics constitute a determining factor in the development of lesions at diverse organ levels. There was a difference in the nature and the location of the ischemic changes, which was shown after the prolonged administration of these drugs in increasing dosage or after the simultaneous administration of them for a relatively short period. It seems that impairment of veinous drainage largely accounts for the adverse cardiovascular effect of sympathomimetic amines. This assumption is supported by the fact that it is possible to reproduce essentially similar pathologic changes by surgical occlusion of the efferent vessels.