Endotoxin shock in the pig: beneficial effects of pretreatment with prednisolone sodium succinate.

In anesthetized pigs, the influence on cardiovascular performance and on survival rate of IV administration of a large dose of endotoxin (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) was examined. This dose of endotoxin (LD100) resulted in a progressively evolving deterioration of cardiovascular functions and in the death of all animals within 210 minutes (mean +/- SEM: 107 +/- 13 minutes) after it was given. The IV injection of prednisolone sodium succinate, 10 mg/kg at 25 minutes before dosing the pigs with endotoxin resulted in a significant increase in survival time. This effect of the glycocorticoid can only partly be ascribed to an amelioration of the cardiovascular dysfunctions.