Sodium bicarbonate (BC) and dichloroacetate (DCA) were studied in 7- to 14-day-old (n = 25) anesthetized swine with hypoxic acidosis. BC (base deficit X kg X 0.3, n = 10), DCA (300 mg/kg, n = 7) or saline (n = 8) was infused for 1 h. Blood lactic acid, dP/dtmax, heart rate and cardiac output increased and base excess and total arterial and carotid resistances (R) decreased with acidosis; aortic pressure, renal and mesenteric R did not change. BC induced higher pH, base excess and lactic acid. Heart rate in all and dP/dtmax with BC and DCA were restored; renal and mesenteric R and aortic pressure decreased in all. Cardiovascular responses to DCA and BC did not differ except for renal R.
Conclusion: BC is a more effective alkalizer than DCA, which induced a greater renal vasodilation; both restored contractility.