Effects of aldosterone and dexamethasone on blood chemical mediators in endotoxin shock.

Although the pathogenesis of endotoxins shock is still a matter of speculation, we attach importance to chemical mediators in endotoxin shock. We measured chemical mediators such as histamine, serotonin, bradykinin and catecholamines and investigated the anti-toxic effects of aldosterone and dexamethasone on rabbits in endotoxin shock. Histamine, serotonin and catecholamines were measured by fluorometric assay. Bradykinin was measured by bioassay using rat uteri. The blood concentration of chemical mediators after endotoxin administration was elevated. Aldosterone and dexamethasone inhibited the release of chemical mediators, thereby preventing endotoxin shock.