title: Host defense against bacterial endotoxemia: mechanism in normal animals.
abstract: The present study defines the early response of normal rabbits to the intravenous injection of a single, sublethal dose of endotoxin. Within the first few hours following endotoxin there occurs in the circulating plasma of recipients a decrease in ionized calcium, a threefold increase in the heat-stable, organo-phosphate-resistant esterase level, and a striking increase in the endotoxin-detoxifying capacity. These results are fully consistent with the thesis that circulating plasma represents a principal site of detoxification and that plasma esterases of the nonspecific, carboxylic type are of major concern in defense against circulating endotoxins.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D001345:Autoradiography; D001681:Biological Assay; D001711:Biotransformation; D001797:Blood Protein Electrophoresis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood*; D002859:Chromium Isotopes; D004731:Endotoxins; D004926:Escherichia coli; D004950:Esterases / Q000097:blood*; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011817:Rabbits; D012475:Salmonella; D014115:Toxemia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D002859:Chromium Isotopes; D004731:Endotoxins; D004950:Esterases; D002118:Calcium