The clearance capacity of the canine liver for a portal vein endotoxin infusion.
The capacity of the livers of anesthetized dogs to clear a portal vein infusion of Escherichia coli 026 endotoxin was evaluated. Appearance of the endotoxin in arterial blood was quantitated by immunoradiometric assay. Various hemodynamic and metabolic parameters were monitored throughout the infusion to corroborate the development of systemic endotoxemia. Significant amounts of E. coli 026 endotoxin were detected in arterial blood after infusion of 240 micrograms endotoxin. As expected, systemic endotoxemia was associated with decreased cardiac index, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and splanchnic (portal vein) blood flow. Changes in plasma levels of glucose, insulin, and glucagon and in the pancreatic outputs of insulin and glucagon did not occur before the development of severe hypotension and the termination of the study. It was concluded that the liver clearance capacity for endotoxin in the dog is 0.72 microgram/gm liver/hour and that severe hemodynamic alterations develop in this animal model before changes in carbohydrate balance.
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D050260:Carbohydrate Metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D011169:Portal Vein
D004731:Endotoxins