Aspects of plasma proteolysis in lethal canine endotoxin shock.

Endotoxin shock was induced in dogs by infusing 6 mg/kg body weight E-coli endotoxin intravenously over a three hours period. Circulatory collapse and death occurred within 7 1/2 to 15 hours. The involvement of plasma proteases in this lethal canine endotoxin shock model was studied using chromogenic peptide substrate assays. Also other techniques including immunochemical methods, clotting assays and hemolytic assay were used. The present paper summarizes our findings.