title: Endotoxin in the conscious piglet: its effects on some general and gastrointestinal myoelectrical parameters.
abstract: The effect of an intravenous bolus injection of endotoxin, 0.1, 1 or 10 micrograms/kg, on rectal temperature, clinical appearance, haematological parameters, and on gastrointestinal electrical activity was examined in 11 conscious piglets of 4-5 weeks of age, with implanted electrodes in the antrum pylori, duodenum, jejunum and ileum. All doses resulted in a significant and dose-dependent increase in rectal temperature, in pronounced clinical signs and in distinct changes in haematological values. These included shivering, depression, respiratory distress, a leukopenia (0.1 micrograms/kg) or a leukocytosis (1 microgram/kg) with a shift to the left, an accelerated sedimentation rate and a decreased packed cell volume. Doses of 1 and 10 micrograms/kg induced a transient inhibition of gastroduodenal electrical activity. These results suggest that, in the piglet, endotoxin primarily manifests general clinical signs and that the gastrointestinal effects coincide with these.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, State University Centre, Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Saedeleer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wechsung
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Houvenaghel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D001799:Blood Sedimentation / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004068:Digestive System Physiological Phenomena; D004576:Electromyography / Q000662:veterinary; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000662:veterinary; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides