['We observed that centhaquin, a cardiovascular active agent, reduces blood lactate levels. Because blood lactate is an important indicator of end-organ perfusion, we determined the resuscitative effect of centhaquin in hemorrhaged rats.', 'Male, adult Sprague-Dawley rats (Harlan, Indianapolis, IN) were anesthetized with urethane, and a pressure catheter SPR-320 was placed in the left femoral artery, and a pressure-volume catheter SPR-869 was placed into the left ventricle through carotid artery. Hemorrhage was induced by withdrawing blood from the right femoral artery, and mean arterial pressure was maintained between 35 and 40 mm Hg for 30 min after which resuscitation was performed using normal saline (control), 3% hypertonic saline, or centhaquin dissolved in 3% hypertonic saline. Arterial blood pH, pO(2), pCO(2), lactate, hematocrit, and cardiovascular parameters were measured before the induction of hemorrhage (baseline), 30 min after induction of hemorrhagic shock, and every 60 min thereafter until the animal expired.', 'Hypertonic saline was effective in reducing blood lactate levels and improving cardiac output (CO) of hemorrhaged rats. Centhaquin dissolved in hypertonic saline produced a significantly greater decrease in blood lactate and increase in mean arterial pressure and CO compared with hypertonic saline in hemorrhaged rats. Fraction survival at 250 min was 0 when resuscitated with hypertonic saline, whereas it was 0.8 with centhaquin.'] Does centhaquin improve resuscitative effect of hypertonic saline in hemorrhaged rats?