Direct influence of endotoxin on cellular respiration

Hepatocyte oxygen consumption was evaluated in vitro in 70 rabbits. In selected instances, Escherichia coli endotoxin was added to a chamber containing either rabbit hepatocytes or hepatocyte homogenates. Endotoxin directly depressed the respiration of intact rabbit hepatocytes. Endotoxin also decreased the oxygen consumption of hepatocyte homogenates. The intact cell membrane is not an effective barrier to the deleterious effect of endotoxin. A patient in a state of endotoxic shock, in addition to having a hemodynamic derangement, probably has circulating toxins that directly render cellular oxidative phsophorylation less efficient.