Tumour necrosis factor mediates bacterial translocation after haemorrhagic shock and endotoxaemia.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the extent of bacterial translocation after haemorrhagic shock and reperfusion, and the involvement of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in its mediation.


METHODS
Controlled, randomised prospective experiment.


METHODS
87 rats in 7 groups.


METHODS
Haemorrhagic shock was induced in rats for 1 hour. Endotoxaemia was induced in a second group by the injection of lipopolysaccharide. A third group was injected with exogenous TNF. Some of the animals were further treated with anti-TNF.


METHODS
After 24 hours, bacterial translocation in blood and in several remote organs, and serum TNF concentrations were measured.


RESULTS
High bacterial counts were found in all remote organs of rats with haemorrhagic shock or endotoxaemia. Their serum TNF concentrations were significantly higher than in the corresponding sham-operated controls. Anti-TNF significantly reduced the extent of bacterial translocation. Rats, the only treatment of which was exogenous TNF, developed substantial bacterial translocation.


CONCLUSIONS
Bacterial translocation is associated with increased serum TNF, and can be minimised by anti-TNF. This, and the triggering of translocation in unprovoked animals by TNF alone, suggest that TNF may be the stimulator, and not the consequence, of bacterial translocation.
Goldman
G
G
Department of Surgery B, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Israel.
Soffer
D
D
Heller
L
L
Aderka
D
D
Lahat
A
A
Klausner
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation / Q000502:physiology*; D019446:Endotoxemia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012771:Shock, Hemorrhagic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha