The effect of ethylurethane on hematocrit, blood pressure and plasma-glucose.

Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 25% ethylurethane (i.e. 2.8 M) in a dose of 1 g/kg causes a rise in hematocrit (Hct) accompanied by an identical rise in erythrocyte count but by a fall in plasma protein. This effect is absent after intra-arterial (i.a.) and oral administration and much reduced after subcutaneous (s.c.) injection. The hemoconcentration is not caused by osmotic attraction of fluid but by leakage of blood plasma into the peritoneal cavity. The higly concentrated urethane solution causes superificial damage of intra-abdominal organs. Extensive local damage is also observed after s.c. and intramuscular injection of 25% urethane. The fall in blood pressure which is found after i.p. injection, but is absent after i.a. injection, can be explained by the loss of blood plasma. Plasma-glucose rises after i.p. injection but not after i.a. injection. This hyperglycemia may be initiated by stimuli arising in the damaged tissues.