Role of endogenous carbon monoxide in endotoxin shock.
OBJECTIVE
To study the role of endogenous carbon monoxide (CO) in endotoxin shock.


METHODS
The changes of CO levels and the effects of zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP), an inhibitor of heme-oxygenase (HO), in endotoxin shock and the efficacy of hemin, an inducer of HO were investigated.


RESULTS
The plasma CO levels were found to be significantly increased during the course of endotoxin shock. Injection of ZnPP was shown to abrogate the endotoxin-induced hypotension and metabolic derangements markedly. Administration of hemin to healthy rabbits revealed the hypotension and metabolic derangements similar to the animals given endotoxin.


CONCLUSIONS
CO is a newly found endogenously produced mediator which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of endotoxin shock.
Yuan
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400042.
Huaqiang
L
L
Jie
P
P
Shiwen
Q
Q
Feng
P
P
Dongbo
J
J
Jigao
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008297:Male; D008665:Metalloporphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology; D011524:Protoporphyrins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008665:Metalloporphyrins; D011524:Protoporphyrins; C017803:zinc protoporphyrin; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)