Endotoxin toxicity in rats is enhanced by tilorone.

The relatively nontoxic drug, tilorone, greatly enhanced the susceptibility of rats to lethal effects of endotoxin. The magnitude of the synergy was similar to that produced by adrenalectomy, but the effect of tilorone was not mediated by the adrenal glands. The histopathologic effects of endotoxin plus tilorone resembled those produced by much larger doses of endotoxin alone, including instances of the generalized Shwartzman reaction.