Serum CPK and aldolase activities in rabbits with tournique shock

Rabbits were left alone for 15 hours with their femoral root fastened tightly with an elastic cord and thereafter unfastened. Studies were made of the symptomatic changes on shock and the fluctuations of activities of CPK and aldolase in their serum. The results revealed that in all 6 cases these activities in serum elevated abruptly after unfastening with peak values of about 60 to 780 times and about 30 to 230 times as high as the pre-fastening values for CPK and for aldolase, respectively. Remarkable swellings were observed on fastened limbs after unfastening in all cases. In one case with a particularly remarkable swelling, measurements were made of the CPK and aldolase activities in the serous fluid retained subcutaneously in the swollen area. As a result, the activity values in the fluid were about 300 to 500 times higher than the pre-fastening values and even about 6 to 8 times higher than the values immediately after the animal's death, respectively. These findings suggested that muscular disintegration led to an escape of abundant intramuscular enzymes into the serous fluid, and that the enzymes that escaped extracellulary flowed further into the systemic circulatory system, resulting in an increase in the enzymic activity values. It can be presumed that toxic metabolites produced at the site of fastening also flow in the same way as CPK and aldolase. It seems very improbable that CPK and aldolase are the entity responsible for the tournique shock. However, these enzymes will act as an excellent indicator of the degree of muscular disintegration and will be available as an adjunct to the decision of the cause of death of a body suspected of tournique shock.