Genetic differences between endotoxin-sensitive and resistant C3H mice. Intraperitoneal cell response to lipopolysaccharide and prostaglandins.

The 2 related mouse strains C3H/HeJ and C3/Han differe in their response to endotoxin. C3H/HeJ mice are endotoxin-resistant, C3H/Han mice are - like all other mice - endotoxin-sesinsitive. The uptake of fluorescent intraperitoneally injected lipopolysaccharide was similar in both mouse strains. The intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide produced a higher mobilization of neutrophil granulocytes in resistant C3H/HeJ mice than in C3H/Han mice. An opposite pattern of mobilization of neutrophil granulocytes could be observed after injection of the prostaglandins E 1, E 2, and F 1 alpha: which both mouse strains were compared, a normal mobilization was observed in C3H/Han mice. C3H/HeJ mice showed a markedly decreased mobilization. If the difference between the 2 strains resides in a single gene locus itis to be assumed that lipopolysaccharide resistance is controlled by the same gene which also effects an impaired response to neutrophil mobilization after prostaglandin application.