EFFECTS OF STEROIDAL AND NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY AGENTS IN NEONATAL ENDOTOXEMIA

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  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 13  (2) , 161-169
Abstract
The effects of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents on mortality, plasma glucose and lactate levels, and pathologic alterations associated with Escherichia coli endotoxemia were assessed in neonatal rats. Animals were first injected s.c. with either high (LD95) or moderate (LD35) doses of endotoxin and immediately thereafter were administered either saline, dexamethasone, indomethacin or glucose. Animals treated with saline or glucose developed significant hypoglycemia and hyperlactacidemia. Dexamethasone and indomethacin ameliorated the fall in glucose and the rise in lactate during high dose but not moderate dose endotoxemia. Pathologic changes consisting of widespread inflammation and hepatic necrosis were most marked in the saline- and indomethacin-treated animals. Only dexamethasone significantly reduced mortality at either LD50 or LD35 doses of endotoxin. Dexamethasone may reduce mortality in endotoxic shock through mechanisms other than simple amelioration of changes in plasma glucose.