Clearance and tissue distribution of fibronectin in septic rats: relationship to synthetic rate.

Fibronectin is a glycoprotein found in a soluble form in plasma and in an insoluble form in many tissues. We evaluated the influence of postoperative intraperitoneal sepsis on the clearance, tissue distribution, and synthesis of plasma fibronectin in rats (300-400 g). Experimental sepsis was induced by cecal ligation following laparotomy, whereas control animals underwent laparotomy (5 cm) alone. At 24 and 48 h after laparotomy, plasma fibronectin levels were normal. After laparotomy plus cecal ligation, plasma fibronectin increased by 47% at 24 h and remained elevated (52% above 0 time) at 48 h. At 24 h postsurgery the disappearance and tissue distribution of 75Se-plasma fibronectin and 75Se-plasma albumin was evaluated. Tissue distribution was quantified at 2 and 24 h after intravenous injection of both tracer proteins in separate groups. Both fibronectin and albumin demonstrated an initial distribution between vascular and extravascular sites and then a progressive decrease in plasma. In control (laparotomy) rats the half-life (t1/2) for plasma clearance of 75Se-plasma fibronectin was 25.33 +/- 2.53 h compared with 13.21 +/- 0.78 h in the septic rats. Septic rats manifested decreased sequestration of 75Se-fibronectin at the area of surgical incision (laparotomy), increased sequestration at the focus of intraperitoneal infection, and increased uptake in the nonviable portion of the cecum. The synthetic rate for plasma fibronectin in laparotomized control rats was 3.03 +/- 0.29 mg X 100 g-1 X 24 h-1, whereas after laparotomy plus cecal ligation the synthetic rate increased to 4.58 +/- 0.35 mg X 100 g-1 X 24 h-1. In contrast the synthetic rate for albumin decreased from 84.70 +/- 1.66 mg X 100 g-1 X 24 h-1 in controls to 52.38 +/- 1.77 mg X 100 g-1 X 24 h-1 in the septic animals. Thus intraperitoneal sepsis in the rat will enhance the vascular clearance, alter the distribution, and increase the synthetic rate for plasma fibronectin.