title: Changes in plasma hormone levels following lipopolysaccharide injection in rabbits.
abstract: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin comprising part of the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. It is able to induce a septic state and the release of several pro-inflammatory cytokines that are known to be responsible for hormonal changes in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in plasma adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), corticosterone and cortisol levels in a rabbit model in which sepsis was induced by the intravenous administration of LPS. The possible involvement of several protein kinases, namely protein kinase A (PKA), C (PKC) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and proteasome was also assessed. The results indicated that LPS induced significant increases in plasma ACTH, corticosterone and cortisol concentrations in rabbits. Moreover, protein kinases and proteasome seemed to mediate the hormone response to LPS as treatment with specific inhibitors prior to LPS administration was able to reduce, delay, or, in some cases, inhibit the hormone increases. The findings may help to construct strategies to protect and treat animals with endotoxaemia.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit, Department of Animal Pathology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Zaragoza, E-50013 Zaragoza, Spain. cmarca@unizar.es
authors.forename: M Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marca
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gómez-Quintero
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Viñuales
authors.forename: M Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Yoldi
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone; D006854:Hydrocortisone