Tumour Necrosis Factor Mediates Bacterial Translocation After Haemorrhagic Shock and Endotoxaemia

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Abstract
To assess the extent of bacterial translocation after haemorrhagic shock and reperfusion, and the involvement of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in its mediation. Controlled, randomised prospective experiment. 87 rats in 7 groups. Haemorrhagic shock was induced in rats for 1 hour. Endotoxaemia was induced in a second group by the injection of lipopolysaccharide. A third group was injected with exogenous TNF. Some of the animals were further treated with anti-TNF. After 24 hours, bacterial translocation in blood and in several remote organs, and serum TNF concentrations were measured. High bacterial counts were found in all remote organs of rats with haemorrhagic shock or endotoxaemia. Their serum TNF concentrations were significantly higher than in the corresponding sham-operated controls. Anti-TNF significantly reduced the extent of bacterial translocation. Rats, the only treatment of which was exogenous TNF, developed substantial bacterial translocation. Bacterial translocation is associated with increased serum TNF, and can be minimised by anti-TNF. This, and the triggering of translocation in unprovoked animals by TNF alone, suggest that TNF may be the stimulator, and not the consequence, of bacterial translocation.

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