Release of acid hydrolases in hemorrhagic shock after pretreatment with hydrocortisone in the pig

An experimental study of the effect of pharmacologic doses of hydrocortisone in hemorrhagic shock in the pig is described. Oligemic hypotension was induced for sixty minutes by maintaining the mean arterial blood pressure at 30 mm Hg. Pretreatment with hydrocortisone (50 mg/kg of body weight) suppressed the plasma activity of the acid hydrolases β-D-glucosidase and β-D-galactosidase compared with that in a control group. In addition, treatment with steroids reduced the degree of metabolic acidosis and hyperpotassemia. After reinfusion of the shed blood the arterial blood pressure was higher in the group treated with steroids.The results of this study indicate that glucocorticoids have a protective effect in hemorrhagic shock in pigs. This action seems to occur primarily at a metabolic level rather than by direct interference with the general circulation.