Kinetics of nitric oxide synthase induction by Propionibacterium avidum and lipopolysaccharide

Conditions for the induction of rat liver Ca2(+)-independent nitric oxide synthase were determined with killed Propionibacterium avidum, and compared with lipopolysaccharide endotoxin. Similar maximal induction was obtained intraperitoneally with the two types of inducers but killed Propionibacterium avidum gave a long-lasting induction while lipopolysaccharide displayed a rapid and short response. Moreover, the induction resulting from an intravenous administration of killed Propionibacterium avidum reached 60 times that of the control whereas lipopolysaccharide treatment induced a 24-fold stimulation only. It is noteworthy that with the first inducer the nitric oxide activity was stable with time whereas with the second one it dropped after 8 h. Whatever the route of administration of killed Propionibacterium avidum, some huge vacuolated Kupffer cells were found in the liver whose parenchyma was almost normal. Numerous monocytes, and unaltered Kupffer cells, were observed. Kupffer cells were identified to be responsible for the uptake of killed Propionibacterium avidum.