[Preventive action of shen mai san on heatstroke in aged rats].

15-18 month-old Wistar rats were selected and placed in 41 degrees C chamber for 12 hours. 10% Shen Mai San granule was poured into the stomachs every 3 hours. The preventive effects of this drug on heatstroke were observed. The result showed that the mortality of animal was decreased, the exhaustions of myocardial creatine phosphate and cAMP contents were significantly mitigated. By the view point of western medicine, the mechanisms recorded in traditional Chinese medicine about the preventive actions of this drug on heatstroke were also discussed in this study. The authors considered that the effects of Shen Mai San on "strengthening pulmonary Qi", "strengthening Heart Qi", might be concerned in its efficiency to stabilize the energy store in myocardium, and it might be beneficial to prevent the elderly from heatstroke.