Short-term exposure to lipopolysaccharide is associated with microvascular contractile dysfunction in vivo

The purpose of this study was to determine whether short-term exposure of resistance arterioles to lipopolysaccharide in situ is associated with changes in vasomotor tone. Using intravital microscopy, we found that suffusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (3 micrograms/ml) over hamster cheek pouch arterioles for 1 h was associated with a significant immediate biphasic response: vasoconstriction followed by vasodilation (p < 0.05). The former was attenuated by indomethacin, and the latter by SK&F 108566, a selective, non-peptide angiotension II receptor antagonist (p < 0.05). The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-L-nitro arginine, had no significant effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced responses. Allopurinol, a scavenger of reactive oxygen species, significantly attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced vasodilation. Acetylcholine- and nitroglycerin-induced vasodilation were significantly potentiated after lipopolysaccharide. These responses were recorded in the absence of any significant changes in systemic arterial blood pressure. Collectively, these data suggest that short-term exposure of the peripheral microcirculation to lipopolysaccharide in situ is associated with an ischemia-reperfusion-like injury. These changes may contribute to end organ failure observed several hours after exposure to lipopolysaccharide.