title: Comparative studies on the effect of TNF-alpha and endotoxin on the ultrastructural picture of pulmonary capillaries in pregnant rabbits.
abstract: The aim of the present study was the comparative analysis of morphological changes found in the pulmonary microcirculation of pregnant rabbits in the course of experimental septic shock induced by endotoxin or human recombinant TNF-alpha administration. The experiments used 30 female rabbits, white Dutch, c.3 kg mean body weight. The endotoxin Escherichia coli, serotype S.0127: 138 (Sigma) was applied in a single dose of 100 micrograms/kg b.w. intraperitoneally. The human recombinant TNF-alpha (biological activity 2-4 x 10(7) U/mg of protein) was injected intraperitoneally, also once, in a dose of 100 micrograms/kg b.w. Morphological examinations were based on the ultrastructural analysis in the transmission electron microscope. The ultrastructural analysis revealed no morphological differences between pregnant and non-pregnant rabbits which received TNF-alpha. However, significant differences were observed between animals given TNF-alpha and those given the endotoxin. These differences referred to endothelium damage degree and to the cellular composition of inflammatory infiltrations. More severe damage to endothelial cells (necrosis inclusive) was observed in the endotoxin-treated rabbits. Blood vascular lumen in these animals showed cellular aggregation, of neutrophils and platelets in particular as well as microthrombi. An increased tendency towards the development of these changes was noted in pregnant rabbits. The lumen of pulmonary capillaries in TNF-alpha treated animals showed domination of monocytic cells. Features of endothelial cell stimulation were observed, although without a tendency to form microthrombi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathological Anatomy, Medical School of Białystok.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sulkowska
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sulkowski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terlikowski
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dziecioł
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Famulski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C044101:endotoxin, Escherichia coli