Morphopathology of the adenohypophysis of chickens in shock induced by Escherichia coli.

We studied modifications in the adenohypophysis of chickens subjected to experimental septic shock by repeated intraperitoneal inoculations with Escherichia coli 026 B6. We observed vascular modifications characterized by capillary dilation and endothelial defects, together with marked perivascular edema and collagen fibers in the groups receiving the most inoculations. Similarly, there was a proliferation of mononuclear cells, belonging mainly to the mononuclear phagocyte system, and plasma cells and lymphocytes. The lesions found in chickens receiving only one inoculation may be evidence of a morphopathological relationship between shock induced by E. coli and lesions that develop in the swollen-head syndrome.