ENDOTOXIC-SHOCK IN RABBIT - EFFECTS OF PROSTAGLANDIN AND ARACHIDONIC-ACID ADMINISTRATION

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  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 206  (3) , 555-566
Abstract
A rabbit model was used to determine the effects of prostaglandins and arachidonic acid on cellular integrity and survival during endotoxic shock. Prostaglandins A2, E1 and F2.alpha. were infused i.v. at a rate of 1.0 .mu.g/kg per min for 105 min beginning 15 min after the administration of an LD60 dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin. While each of the prostaglandins tested significantly attenuated the accumulation of lactic acid dehydrogenase in the plasma of shocked animals, none were able to protect against the increase in the plasma activities of glutamic pyruvic transminase activities in the plasma of shocked animals, and also significantly increased the number of survivors in this group 48 h after the endotoxin administration. While the treatment of endotoxic rabbits with prostaglandins of the A, E and F series was of no survival value, the treatment of these animals with a substrate of the prostaglandin synthetase complex resulted in a dramatic increase in the survival rate. The mechanism of action of arachidonic acid in this regard is not clear.