Ultrastructural studies of experimental endotoxin shock in the liver and spleen: therapeutic effects of low-dose heparin on reticuloendothelial disturbances.
To determine the effects of low-dose heparin on the reticuloendothelial system in shock, rats were subjected to intraperitoneal administration of E coli endotoxin. Alterations such as degeneration and necrosis of the Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelial cells were observed in the livers of the non-heparin-treated animals 4 hours after the administration of the endotoxin. These changes progressed with time. Kupffer cells in the heparin-treated rats appeared undisturbed up to 8-12 hours post endotoxin challenge. Phagocytosis of cell remained slight in the heparin-treated rats. The mortality rate of the heparin-treated group was 10% with LD50 endotoxin (7.6 mg/kg). The mortality rate of the untreated control group 24 hours after administration was 50%. However, when endotoxin was administered in a dosage of 30 mg/kg (MLD), the mortality rate of the heparin-treated rats was 60%--10% greater than that of controls (P less than 0.05).
D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006493:Heparin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013997:Time Factors
D004731:Endotoxins; D006493:Heparin