| Abstract: | ![]()
We have studied the effect of continuous endotoxin infusion on rat pulmonary structure and function (69.4 ng/100 gm body weight/min for 24 hours). After 6 days of endotoxin infusion, lack of filling of pre- and intraacinar arteries was evident on pulmonary arteriograms. Microscopy demonstrated lumen narrowing in preacinar arteries and occlusion of intraacinar arteries. Morphometry of patent intraacinar arteries established dilation and increased wall muscle. Widespread alveolar wall injury was evident. After 24 hours of infusion, pulmonary artery pressure was raised (delta 9 mmHg; p less than or equal to 0.001); it then fell but was again increased by day 6 (delta 6 mmHg; p less than or equal to 0.05). Pulmonary vascular resistance was markedly increased at 24 hours (day 0 = 0.1 +/- 0.011 dyne/sec/cm-5; 24 hours endotoxin = 0.572 +/- 0.102 dyne/sec/cm-5; p less than or equal to 0.02). It remained elevated during the infusion period but was not significant. At day 6 the alveolar-arterial oxygen diffusion gradient (A-aDO2) was increased (day 0 = 19.6 +/- 1.39 mmHg, day 6 endotoxin = 33.8 +/- 0.1 mmHg; p less than or equal to 0.001). The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was decreased (day 0 = 86.5 +/- 1.8 mmHg, day 6 endotoxin = 74 +/- 2.52 mmHg; p less than or equal to 0.05), as was the arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) (day 0 = 36.0 +/- 0.73 mmHg, day 6 endotoxin = 30 +/- 1.9 mmHg; p less than or equal to 0.05). Thrombocytopenia occurred during the first 72 hours of infusion (day 0 = 7.41 +/- 0.41 X 10(5)/mm3, day 1 endotoxin = 2.43 +/- 0.30 X 10(5)/mm3, day 3 endotoxin = 2.32 +/- 0.31 X 10(5)/mm3; p less than or equal to 0.001) but by day 6 the platelet count had returned to basal levels (9.9 +/- 0.65 X 10(5)/mm3). Endotoxin increased the number of leukocytes in peripheral blood (day 0 = 12.8 +/- 1.2 X 10(3)/mm3, day 3 endotoxin = 17.0 +/- 1.86 X 10(3)/mm3, day 6 endotoxin = 22.5 +/- 1.8 X 10(3)/mm3; p less than or equal to 0.01 for day 6). Plasma concentrations of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha decreased during the first 24 hours of infusion (day 0 = 0.56 +/- 0.076 ng/ml, 24 hours endotoxin = 0.27 +/- 0.026 ng/ml; p less than or equal to 0.05) and thromboxane (TX) B2 in the first 15 hours (day 0 = 0.23 +/- 0.058 ng/ml, 15 hours endotoxin = 0.09 +/- 0.14 ng/ml; p less than or equal to 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS) |
