Neutrophil function and lipid peroxidation in a rat model of multiple organ failure

Multiple organ failure (MOF) was induced by sterile intraperitoneal inoculation of zymosan in the rat. This results in a typical triphasic illness with maximal clinical signs at Days 2 and 14. In this study, granulocyte superoxide production (unstimulated and phorbol myristic acid stimulated) was studied as well as lipid peroxidation (TBAR) in plasma, liver, and lung tissue. Mainly TBAR levels in liver and lung tissue closely correlated with the triphasic clinical illness, while bacteriological data did not. It is concluded that the severe inflammatory response in this experimental model probably is the result of excessive toxic oxygen radical production. The first phase of illness may mainly be due to oxygen radical formation by activated PMN, the third phase of illness to the production of lysosomal enzymes (proteinases) from PMN, and activated macrophages as indicated by elevated N-acetylglucosaminidase levels.