COMPARISON OF THE SYSTEMIC AND PULMONARY VASCULAR-RESPONSE TO ENDOTOXIN WITH PLASMA AND LUNG LYMPH LYSOSOMAL ENZYME-RELEASE - EFFECT OF STEROID PRETREATMENT

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 7  (3) , 317-331
Abstract
The systemic and pulmonary vascular response to Escherichia coli endotoxin were compared with changes in lysosomal enzyme (LE) activity in plasma and lung lymph in the unanesthetized sheep with a lung lymph fistula. LE activity was a reliable marker of injury, particularly in the lung, as measured by lung lymph (QL) was studied and the mechanism of injury defined. E. coli endotoxin (10 .mu.g/kg) resulted in a systemic shock and a significant pulmonary microvascular permeability change with QL increasing 5-fold. Ten of 12 animals died in 5-6 h. Plasma activity of LE increased by 100% while lymph activity increased 3- to 5-fold. The actual transport of LE in lung lymph increased 20 to 40-fold. Peripheral white cell count [WBC] decreased to 20% of baseline during this period. Pretreatment with methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) blocked the systemic injury and the increase in plasma LE; 11 of 12 animals survived. The pulmonary vascular permeability change was partially blocked, with QL increasing by 3-fold and lymph LE increasing 3- to 4-fold. Peripheral WBC count decreased. The degree of systemic and pulmonary injury corresponds with the increase in plasma and lung lymph LE activity, respectively the mechanism of injury and LE increase appears to be different for the 2 systems.