Protective effect of nitric oxide in an endotoxin-induced septic shock.
BACKGROUND
Calcium ion (Ca++)-independent nitric oxide (NO) synthase activity in animals was markedly induced by treatment with endotoxin, but NO levels in various tissues removed from endotoxin-treated animals have not been reported. The role of NO during an endotoxin-induced septic shock remains controversial.


METHODS
ICR mice, randomly divided into one of six treatment groups, received intraperitoneal injections as follows: phosphate-buffered saline; Escherichia coli LPS (LPS); N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA); N(omega)-nitro-D-arginine (D-NNA); LPS plus L-NNA; and LPS plus D-NNA. The mice were either monitored for mortality or killed for nitrite/nitrate assays and histologic analysis.


RESULTS
NO levels in many tissues were markedly increased by injection of LPS, and administration of L-NNA increased mortality rates of LPS-treated mice, in association with an increase in tissue damage in the lung, liver, and kidney.


CONCLUSIONS
The endogenous NO generated during LPS-mediated septic shock could be protective.
Park
J H
JH
Christian Medical Research Center, Chonju, Chonbuk, South Korea.
Chang
S H
SH
Lee
K M
KM
Shin
S H
SH
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D011897:Random Allocation; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015996:Survival Rate
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019335:Nitroarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase