The effect of ATP on survival in intestinal ischemia shock, hemorrhagic shock, and endotoxin shock in rats.

Mg-ATP 72 mumole/kg was injected into anesthetized rats subjected to intestinal ischemia shock (SAO), hemorrhagic shock (HS), and endotoxin shock (ES), shock models in which all untreated animals died. Administration of Mg-ATP in no instance improved survival rate. In SAO, Mg-ATP given intra-arterially (IA) or intraperitoneally (IP) before the period of ischemia significantly reduced the survival time, and when given IA after the period of ischemia caused no significant change in survival time. In HS survival time was not significantly altered if Mg-ATP was given IA before or after the period of hypotension, but if given IP before bleeding survival time was significantly prolonged. Marked hemodynamic effects of Mg-ATP were observed resulting in reduction of the maximum bleeding volume and in an earlier spontaneous reuptake of the shed blood. In ES survival time was not affected if the Mg-ATP was given before the endotoxin, but survival time was significantly decreased if Mg-ATP was given before as well as after the endotoxin. It is concluded that any beneficial effect of ATP is probably small, whereas the occurrence of adverse effects cannot be neglected.