Experiments were performed on 2 groups of baboons anesthetized with Sernylan. One group served as control and the other was premedicated with 5 mg/kg phenoxybenzamine (PBZ). A 2-step hypovolemic shock model was used followed by retransfusion of the shed blood. Cerebral blood flow was measured by the 133Xe clearance method. Arterial and cerebral venous samples were taken and analyzed for blood gases as well as glucose and lactate content. The cerebral metabolic rates of oxygen, glucose, and lactate were calculated. In addition, the effect of CO2 inhalation was studied before shock was induced. PBZ produced no effect on either CBF or the flow response to CO2 prior to bleeding. PBZ pretreatment prevented the fall in cerebral blood flow and CMRO2 produced by systemic hypotension due to bleeding. Lactic acid showed no evidence of change either in production or uptake by the brain during the experimental procedure. The cerebral metabolic pathway of glucose, however, seemed to be affected by PBZ both before and during shock.