AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Discussions with regard to circulatory alterations in shock and the end results of these changes have gone on for many years. As early- as 1944 vasoexcitor and vasodepressor substances in shock states were postulated and efforts were made to identify the substances responsible. These studies represented one of the first steps in the search to find a single substance as a common denominator in various forms of shock. Recent studies of polypeptides, their biological activity and affect on vasomotor tone have suggested their possible importance in shock states. The more recent studies by Moffat on Bradykinin release in pancreatitis, and by Thal on the release of vasoactive peptides in experimental bowel ischaemic shock models have been the two main studies that led to the quantitative measurement of the release of Bradykinin in experimental haemorrhagic shock.