Effects of steroids on the lung accumulation of neutrophil and monocyte in rabbits with endotoxemia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of steroids on the lung accumulation of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and monocytes in rabbits with endotoxemia.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, controlled animal trial.


METHODS
Surgical research laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine.


METHODS
Twenty-four female Japanese white rabbits.


METHODS
Rabbits with endotoxemia were pretreated with steroids sufficient to inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and to prevent the fall of BP.


RESULTS
The circulating leukocyte counts and the leukocyte accumulation in the lung were evaluated. Endotoxin caused a rapid decrease in circulating PMNs and monocytes followed by an 8-fold greater accumulation of PMNs (p < 0.001) and a 6.5-fold greater accumulation of monocytes (p < 0.05). Steroids failed to inhibit this initial drop of PMNs and monocytes. However, steroids inhibited the PMN accumulation in the lung by 50% (p < 0.05), without inhibiting the monocyte accumulation in the lung.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the lung accumulation of PMNs is dependent on TNF or other inflammatory mediators that are inhibited by steroids while the lung accumulation of monocyte is not.
Nakagawa
M
M
Department of Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Ohgami
M
M
Ando
N
N
Wakabayashi
G
G
Kitajima
M
M
D000818:Animals; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009000:Monocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
D004731:Endotoxins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008775:Methylprednisolone