[Protective effect of cortisone against the anti-cellular action of endotoxins]

E Magliulo1, G Pilla, P Quaglia

  • 1Istituto di Clinica Medica Generale e Terapia Medica dell'Università di Pavia.

Archivio Per Le Scienze Mediche
|May 1, 1969
PubMed

In vitro studies with the phase contrast microscope. The protective effect of sodium 6-methyl-prednisolone hemisuccinate against the effects of a purified Salmonella abortus equi lipopolysaccharide were investigated in the rabbit. The intravenous injection of 8 mg of the cortisone derivative simultaneously with the injection of the endotoxin considerably attenuated the febbrile and leukopenic action of the latter. The rate of locomotion of the leukocytes in the peripheral blood in animals treated with endotoxin or with endotoxin plus cortisone was also investigated. In animals protected by sodium 6-methyl-prednisolone hemisuccinate the endotoxin caused a smaller decrease of speed of migration of the leukocytes than that observed in animals treated with the lipopolysaccharide alone. These findings are discussed in the light of present knowledge of the mechanism of the anti-cellular action of endotoxins and of the protective action of cortisone.

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