Significance of elevated cytochrome aa3 in a state of endotoxemia in dogs.

It is now possible to detect quantitative changes in cytochrome aa3 by means of near-infrared spectrophotometry. This technique is also suitable for determining oxidised hemoglobin (HbO2), reduced hemoglobin (Hb), cerebral blood volume, and the redox state of cytochrome aa3 (cyt aa3) in the tissues. The significance of elevated cyt aa3, measured by near-infrared spectrophotometry, is still unclear, so we investigated this question using both near-infrared spectrophotometry and oxygen saturation meters in endotoxemic dogs. Ten anaesthetised mongrel dogs were injected with endotoxin (E. coli 0111: B4 Difco 2 mg/kg i.v.) and the redox state of Hb and cyt aa3 was determined in real time by near-infrared spectrophotometry. The levels of arterial and cisternal venous oxygen saturation were recorded simultaneously by two Oximetrix 3 saturation meters to calculate the cerebral arterial and venous oxygen saturation difference (Sata-vO2D) in real time. HbO2 decreased along with the fall in mean arterial pressure and remained at a low level, while Hb increased and remained at a high level. The cerebral blood volume decreased in the endotoxic early stage and then returned gradually towards baseline. Cyt aa3 showed an increase following endotoxin injection and maintained an oxidised form. The cerebral Sata-vO2D rose to about three times the control level. From these observations, an increase of oxidised cytochrome aa3 after endotoxin administration seems to be a compensatory protective effect in response to the cerebral oxygen demand rather than over-oxygenation or hyperoxia.