HELLP syndrome-like biochemical parameters obtained with endothelin-1 injections in rabbits

We studied the effects of bolus injections and infusion of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in female rabbits by measuring serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), antithrombin III (AT-III), thrombin antithrombin (TAT) complexes, platelet counts and indirect bilirubin. Two successive bolus doses of 0.125 and 0.25 nmol/kg of ET-1 with an interval of 30 min were given to conscious non-pregnant female rabbits (n = 8). GOT, GPT and LDH were found to be significantly increased after injections of ET-1 (p < 0.02, p < 0.04 and p < 0.05, respectively). The percent AT-III activity decreased significantly (p < 0.005). Vasospasm of the hepatic artery was demonstrated by angiography with the same bolus doses in rabbits. There was also an increase in GOT (p < 0.003), GTP (p < 0.05), LDH (p < 0.007), indirect bilirubin (p > 0.07) and TAT complexes (p < 0.02) and a decrease in AT-III (p < 0.03) and platelet counts (p < 0.02) in rabbits (n = 10) after 24 h of continuous infusion of ET-1 (0.6 nmol/kg/h). Histological examination of rabbit liver tissues showed varying degrees of ischemic necrosis of hepatocytes. Thus this study suggests that exogenously administered ET-1 causes vasospasm and liver ischemia resulting in HELLP syndrome-like blood parameters in rabbits.