Semisoluble aminated glucan: long-term efficacy against an intraperitoneal E. coli challenge and its effect on...

The first part of this study in the rat was designed to assess the immediate and, in particular, the long-term effects of semisoluble aminated glucan (SAG) with regard to an intraperitoneal (i.p.) E. coli challenge and side-effects. The severity of the E. coli peritonitis was evaluated by quantification of the concomitant bacteremia. The animals randomly received either 10 ml normal saline i.p. (controls) or 10 ml (50 mg) SAG i.p. (experimental groups). It was found that SAG had no immediate protective effect against the infectious challenge as no difference was detected in the bacterial clearance between saline- and SAG-treated rats at day 0. However, 2 days after injection of saline/SAG a substantial protection of SAG was noted as no blood-borne bacteria could be detected at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 h after the E. coli challenge in SAG-treated animals, whereas by contrast matching blood cultures were positive in all controls. A likewise protective effect against E. coli bacteremia of a single i.p. injection of SAG was demonstrated at 7, 21, and 49 days after the administration of the compound. During the 7-week experimental period no clinical side-effects of SAG were observed. At autopsy (days 0, 2, 7, 21, and 49, respectively) no gross pathologic conditions were found. Lung, spleen, and kidney sections from SAG-treated rats were normal, whereas tiny granulomas were exhibited in liver sections, possibly related to the hyperfunctional macrophage state which SAG induced. The second main object of the study was to evaluate SAG's effect on adhesion formation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)