Electron microscopic observations on cerebral and pulmonary blood vessels after the intravenous injection of artificial lipid emulsions containing barbituric acids.

Abstract

SummaryBarbiturates dissolved in lipid emulsions are more effective than aqueous preparations of the drugs for intravenous use. To test whether this effect might be related to adhesion of lipid particles to cerebral endothelium, various emulsions containing secobarbital or thiopental were injected intravenously into mice. Blood vessels of the brain and of the lung of animals killed at 5 minutes, 20 minutes and 24 hours were examined by electron microscopy. Though lipid particles were sometimes in contact with the vessel wall, preferential localization or sticking to the endothelium was not observed. Side effects which related to emulsifying agents were platelet aggregation and fat emboli in the lungs.