Feline endotoxin shock: effects of methylprednisolone on kininogen-depletion, on the pulmonary circulation and on survival.
1 Escherichia coli endotoxin, administered intravenously in a dose of 2 mg/kg to pentobarbitone anaesthetized, artificially ventilated cats resulted in pulmonary hypertension, systemic hypotension and an immediate (1-2 min) 30-40% reduction in plasma kininogen, an effect which probably indicates a release of plasma kinins. 2 Methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg), when administered 30 min before endotoxin, did not influence the endotoxin-induced pulmonary hypertension or systemic hypotension but completely prevented the depletion of plasma kininogen. 3 In spontaneously breathing cats, methylprednisolone, administered 30 min after endotoxin, caused a rapid repletion of kininogen and prolonged survival (47% at 6 h compared to 10% in the endotoxinalone animals). Methylprednisolone did not appear to influence lactate production or the hyperventilation observed during the delayed endotoxin shock phase. 4 It is concluded t,at methylprednisolone does not prevent the release, by  endotoxin, of a pulmonary vasoconstrictor prostaglandin, or its effects, but that perhaps by preventing kinin release it may reduce endotoxin-induced capillary leakage.
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D007704:Kininogens / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors
D004731:Endotoxins; D007704:Kininogens; D008775:Methylprednisolone