Septic shock in the rat: activation of plasma proteolytic systems and effects of a kallikrein inhibitor/bradykinin antagonist (S-2441).

Septic shock was induced in rats by intraperitoneal injection of live Escherichia coli. Plasma prekallikrein, antithrombin III and plasminogen levels were studied with chromogenic peptide substrate assays. Decrease of all the studied plasma components occurred in all rats, but not until late in shock. S-2441, a kallikrein inhibitor/kinin antagonist, slightly delayed the fall in plasma prekallikrein, but no other effects were found. Rat survival was neither enhanced nor prolonged.