Tolazoline decreases survival time during microwave-induced lethal heat stress in anesthetized rats

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1996 · Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-211-43966· OSTI ID:539156

Jauchem, J R ^[1]; Chang, K S; Frei, M R ^[2]

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1. Brooks Air Force Base, TX (United States)
2. Trinity Univ., San Antonio, TX (United States)

Effects of {alpha}-adrenergic antagonists have been studied during environmental heating but not during microwave-induced heating. Tolazoline may exert some of its effects via {alpha}-adrenergic blockade. In the present study, ketamine-anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 2450-MHz microwaves at an average power density of 60 mW/cm{sup 2} (whole-body specific absorption rate of approximately 14 W/kg) until lethal temperatures were attained. The effects of tolazoline (10 mg/kg body weight) on physiological responses (including changes in body temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiratory rate) were examined. Survival time was significantly shorter in the tolazoline group than in saline-treated animals. In general, heart rate and blood pressure responses were similar to those that occur during environmental heat stress. Heart rate, however, was significantly elevated in animals that received tolazoline, both before and during terminal microwave exposure. It is possible that changes associated with the elevated heart rate (e.g., less cardiac filling) in tolazoline-treated animals resulted in greater susceptibility to microwave-induced heating and the lower survival time. 47 refs., 3 figs., 2 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 539156
• Journal Information: Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine, Vol. 211, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BIOLOGICAL MODELS
MICROWAVE RADIATION
LETHAL DOSES
RADIATION DOSES
MICROWAVE HEATING
RATS
SURVIVAL TIME
BODY TEMPERATURE
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
RESPIRATION
DRUGS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
SYMPATHOMIMETICS
STATISTICS