Blood levels of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F 1 alpha during endotoxin-induced hypotension in rabbits.

Levels of 6-oxo-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-oxo-PGF1 alpha), the non-enzymic degradation product of prostacyclin, were measured in arterial blood from anaesthetized rabbits, before and after intravenous (i.v.) administration of endotoxin (Lipopolysaccharine W E. coli 0111:B4, 5 mg/kg). 6-Oxo-PGF1 alpha was assessed by radioimmunoassay after extraction and separation by thin-layer chromatography. The basal concentration of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha in blood was less than 100 mg/ml in 19 out of 20 rabbits. This indicates that the level of circulating prostacyclin is generally below 100 pg/ml. The administration of endotoxin induced a biphasic hypotension, and increased levels of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha were found in all endotoxin-treated animals during the secondary hypotension after 60 and 120 min. Pretreatment with indomethacin (2.5 mg/kg) prevented the secondary fall in arterial blood pressure and significantly suppressed the rise in 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha. However, indomethacin failed to alter the endotoxin-induced thrombocytopenia and did not modify the endotoxin-induced platelet aggregation in vitro. It is concluded that prostacyclin contributed to the secondary hypotension which accompanied the i.v. administration of endotoxin. Thromboxane A2 seems not to be of primary importance in the endotoxin-platelet interaction.