Summary
Blood drawn from rats following convulsion produced by inhalation of flurothyl appeared
to be hypocoagulable. Prothrombin times and partial thromboplastin times on plasma
tested soon after convulsion were significantly prolonged, but euglobulin lysis times
were greatly shortened (controls mean = 174 minutes, convulsed mean = 35 minutes,
P <0.005). Several additional experiments were performed in an attempt to determine
what component of the convulsive experience was responsible for the increased fibrinolysis.
Flurothyl vapors passed through citrated rat blood in vitro did not alter the euglobulin lysis time. Rats paralyzed with gallamine triethiodide
and supported by artificial ventilation were subjected to flurothyl vapors and the
convulsion monitored by electroencephalography. Post-convulsion plasma from these
animals had euglobulin lysis times that did not differ significantly from suitable
controls. Rats convulsed in convulsion chambers with increased ambient oxygen percentage
had shortened euglobulin lysis times similar to those convulsed in chambers containing
room air. We believe these data eliminate both direct action of the drug on blood
and a direct action through the central nervous system. The enhanced fibrinolytic
activity may be secondary to the muscular activity or asphyxia associated with the
convulsion.
