Endotoxic shock has differential effects on renal and splanchnic eicosanoid synthesis.

This study examined the differential effects of endotoxin on renal and splanchnic vascular (SV + SI) eicosanoid synthesis. Dogs were anesthetized and subjected to a challenge of 1 mg/kg (i.v.) bolus of B-lipopolysaccharide endotoxin followed by a 3 h infusion of endotoxin at 0.5 mg/kg/h. The kidney and SV + SI were cannulated and perfused in vitro with Krebs buffer. The venous effluent from the kidney and SV + SI were assayed for 6-keto-PGF1a (PGI2), PGE2, Leukotriene B4 (LTB4), LTC4, and thromboxane B2 (TXB2) by enzyme immunoassay. Endotoxin treatment markedly increased splanchnic PGI2 release (splanchnic vasodilator) two fold and decreased release of all other measured eicosanoids. Endotoxin treatment markedly increased renal PGE2 (renal vasodilator) but did not significantly increase PGI2. These data showed that endotoxin treatment stimulated both the splanchnic vascular bed and kidney to increase synthesis and release of their major endogenous vasodilator eicosanoids.