Hypoglycemic effects of endotoxin in eviscerated dogs.

Terminal stage, endotoxin shock in the dog is associated with profound hypoglycemia. The response of eviscerated dogs with absent pancreatic and hepatic function is compatible with insulin independent peripheral tissue catabolism of glucose, and an increased lactate-pyruvate ratio suggests anaerobic metabolism. Increased survival in dogs administered exogenous glucose indicates reversible, fuel dependent changes of peripheral tissue metabolism. Since hyperglycemia has been a predominant finding in clinical endotoxin shock, species differences are emphasized, but perhaps closer scrutiny of the terminal stages of clinical endotoxin shock would be more compatible with this experimental model. In any event, an explanation of the metabolic changes in this model may prove valuable in understanding the physiopathology of endotoxin shock.