[Prevention of endotoxic shock in rats with hepatic stimulating substance]

In order to understand the mechanism of prevention of endotoxic shock and evaluate the pathological changes taking place, an animal model of endotoxic shock was established by intravenous injection of endotoxin into rats, which were then treated with a hepatic stimulating substance, hepatopoietin (HPN). The results were as follows; (1) There was coincidence of low blood pressure and high serum level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the experimental rats. (2) Simultaneous intravenous injection of endotoxin and introperitoneal injection of HPN showed that HPN can prevent the drop of blood pressure, lower the TNF level and ameliorate the tissure injury in lungs and kidneys induced by endotoxin. If HPN was given 15 minutes ofter injection of endotoxin, the drop of blood pressure could not be prevented and the TNF level remained high. It is suggested that TNF is an important mediator for endotoxic shock and treatment of endotoxic shock might be effective, if it is intituted early.