Effects of ganglionic blockade and adrenalectomy on the cardio-respiratory response to cow's urine concoction in rats.

The cardio-respiratory effects of cow's urine concoction (CUC) were studied in anaesthetized normal, hexamethonium-treated and adrenalectomized rats. The results showed an early response characterized by a transient depressor effect followed by a more sustained pressor effect. This was followed by a late depressor response. Hypotension was most marked in the adrenalectomized group. The cardio-respiratory effects of CUC in the normal and hexamethonium-treated groups, were milder than in the adrenalectomized group. Animals in these two groups survived the effects of CUC better than the adrenalectomized animals. The response of sham-operated controls showed that the greater effects of CUC in the latter group were not the sequelae of surgical intervention. Further investigation revealed that the secretion of catecholamines from the adrenal glands is indispensable in the resistance of the animals to the toxic effects of CUC. It was also established that in CUC-induced death, respiratory failure precedes circulatory failure. However, failures of both respiration and circulation were the causes of death from CUC.