Guc M O, Gray G A, Furman B L, Parratt J R
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Strathclyde, Scotland, U.K.
Eur J Pharmacol. 1991 Oct 29;204(1):63-70. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(91)90836-f.
The effects of Eschericia coli endotoxin on vascular responsiveness were compared with those of sodium nitroprusside in pithed rats. Infusion of endotoxin (250 micrograms kg-1 h-1) produced a fall in mean arterial blood pressure (11 mmHg) and impaired vasodepressor responses to endothelin, 5-hydroxytryptamine, acetylcholine, bradykinin, sodium nitroprusside and salbutamol. Prevention of endotoxin-induced hypotension with vasopressin infusion (0.64 i.u. kg-1 h-1 i.v.) restored responsiveness to bradykinin, tended to restore responsiveness to endothelin and sodium nitroprusside but failed to restore responsiveness to acetylcholine, 5-HT or salbutamol. Infusion of sodium nitroprusside at a rate (400 micrograms kg-1 h-1) producing a similar fall in blood pressure to that produced by endotoxin markedly impaired vasodepressor responsiveness to 5-HT. However, this was fully restored when the hypotension was prevented by vasopressin infusion. Vasodepressor responsiveness to either acetylcholine or salbutamol was not impaired by sodium nitroprusside in vasopressin-infused rats. The impairment of vasodepressor responsiveness by endotoxin is not due to endotoxin-induced hypotension and does not fit clearly with an endotoxin-mediated impairment of endothelial function.
