CHEMICAL CHANGES IN TISSUES FOLLOWING OBSTRUCTION OF THE BLOOD SUPPLY

¹ The Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, Oxford

1. Within a few minutes of tying the common iliac artery in the rabbit the tissues of the tied-off limb became acid.

2. Substances with the biological reactions of histamine and adenosine can be detected in the ischæmic tissues and the venous blood returning from the limb.

3. It is suggested that the accumulation of these substances, together with the acidity which develops, brings about dilatation of the small vessels of the limb, thereby establishing a good blood-flow through the tissues within 12 hours of tying the artery.

One of us (B. G. M.) is indebted to the Medical Research Council for a personal grant, and to the Government Grant Committee of the Royal Society for a grant towards expenses. Thanks are also due to Professor H. W. Florey and to Dr. A. N. Drury for much help and advice, to Professor J. A. Gunn for the loan of apparatus, and to many others, including Dr J. C. Eccles, Mr D. K. Crystal, and Mr. H. Wheal, for help and assistance.