The pathophysiology of septic shock: studies of reticuloendothelial system function and liver high-energy metabolism in rats following sublethal and lethal Escherichia coli injection.
Phagocytic indices and the hepatic energy charge (ATP + 1/2 ADP/ATP + ADP + AMP) were studied in rats after intravenous sublethal or lethal injection of live Escherichia coli (12--15 X 10(8) or 4--5 X 10(8) organisms/100 gm of body weight). Phagocytic indices as determined by carbon clearance test were progressively decreased in both groups from 0.063 of control to 0.028 or 0.022 (sublethal or lethal) at 12 hours (P less than 0.001). This was mainly due to marked decrease in carbon uptake in the liver even though a marked accumulation of carbon occurred in the lung. At 24 hours in the sublethal group, the phagocytic index was elevated (P less than 0.01). With regard to the spleen, carbon uptake in the sublethal group remained unchanged, in contrast to the decreased uptake in the lethal group, leading to a significant difference between sublethal and lethal groups (P less than 0.05 or less at six and 12 hours). On the other hand, the hepatic energy charge levels in the lethal group progressively decreased from 0.86 to 0.62 until death (P less than 0.001), while those in the sublethal group remained moderately decreased. Following carbon administration, the hepatic energy charges in the control and lethal groups were decreased, while those in the sublethal group remained unchanged. These results suggest a functional reserve of phagocytic activity in liver and spleen and activated high-energy metabolism in the liver for phagocytosis may play a role in determining survival from bacteremic shock.
D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012157:Mononuclear Phagocyte System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013154:Spleen / Q000378:metabolism
D002244:Carbon; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate