Endotoxin-induced acute renal failure in mice

Abstract
Functional acute renal failure (ARF) was induced within 24 h following i.p. injection of 200 µgE. coli endotoxins (ET) into C3H/HeHan mice. Pre- and post-treatment with either UK 38.485, a selective thromboxane (TX)-synthetase inhibitor, or with the cyclo-oxigenase inhibitor, indomethacin (IM), does not prevent acute renal failure in these mice. Histologically, only very little fibrin degradation and few microthrombi are present 24 h later in the kidneys, so that disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) mechanisms cannot have caused the significant azotemia. Slight histological changes are accentuated in the UK 38.485—treated group. Only the indomethacin group has a significantly increased mortality as compared to all other groups. We conclude from our study that with low dosages of endotoxins functional ARF can be induced in mice without a circulatory shock and early mortality and that both UK 38.485 and IM are of little value in preventing it.