Comparison of flunixin, prednisolone, dimethyl sulfoxide, and a lazaroid (U74389F) for treating endotoxemic neonatal calves.

Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg), prednisolone sodium succinate (1.1 mg/kg), U74389F (1.5 mg/kg), and dimethyl sulfoxide (0.5 g/kg) were each administered i.v. to 5 neonatal calves 15 minutes after the start of a 3-hour infusion of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 2 micrograms/kg/hr). Four additional calves were given a 3-hour i.v. infusion of saline solution alone. Only flunixin significantly suppressed eicosanoid production and mitigated clinical signs associated with endotoxemia. Prednisolone provided partial protection against LPS-induced hypotension and lacticemia. Pronounced hypoglycemia and lacticemia were observed in U74389F-treated calves; LPS-induced hypotension and hypoglycemia were marked in dimethyl sulfoxide-treated calves.