title: Comparison of the effects of several endotoxin preparations on body temperature and metabolic rate in the rat.
abstract: The effects of several bacterial endotoxins on body temperature and resting oxygen consumption (VO2) were compared in normal rats. Low doses (0.05 mg/kg, i.m.) of 0127:B8 phenol-extracted endotoxin caused significant increases in both parameters. Maximal febrile responses (+1.6 degrees C) occurred at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg, but higher doses produced smaller effects. The maximal increase in VO2 (17%) occurred at doses of 0.5-1.0 mg/kg. A TCA extract of the same strain of endotoxin elicited a similar pattern of responses but was less potent than the phenol extract, whereas another endotoxin 026:B6 (TCA extract) was much less potent. The data illustrate the importance of constructing dose-response curves when comparing different endotoxins and indicate that in the rat, oxygen consumption provides a useful index of the response to pyrogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatric Medicine, Hope Hospital, Salford, U.K.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Horan
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Little
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rothwell
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Strijbos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins