In Vitro Influence of Bacterial Pyrogens on Adrenocortical Function of Perfused Calf Adrenals

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Abstract
Purified, pyrogenic bacterial polysaccharides derived from Ps. aeruginosa E. coli and S. marcescens. when perfused through isolated calf adrenals in homologous blood (200, 20, and 20 [mu]g/l., resp.), induced an acute inhibition of the adrenocortical activity of either ACTH-stimulated or unstimulated glands, as evidenced by the diminutions in the UV, PS and FS corticoid outputs. Their depressant effect on maximally stimulated adrenals was 48, 51 and 41%, respectively. These same pyrogens, perfused in an artificial medium, failed to deplete the steroid-producing capacity. This suggests the occurrence of an intermediary reaction between the bacterial products tested and some cellular or humoral blood constituent.