guanylyl-imidodiphosphate and Shock--Septic

Catecholamine therapy is often ineffective in reversing the peripheral vasodilatation and hypotension of septic shock. This suggests that catecholamines might not be able to activate alpha 1-adrenergic receptors to cause vasoconstriction. Despite elevations in endogenous catecholamines, hypoglycemia is also a complication of human sepsis, suggesting that among many other causes, hepatic alpha 1-receptors might be altered. To better understand the pathophysiologic basis for this pharmacologic dilemma, we studied the effect of experimental sepsis on alpha 1-adrenergic receptors in hepatic tissue, a rich source of alpha 1-receptors, from septic and control Sprague-Dawley rats. alpha 1-adrenergic receptors were measured with [3H]-prazosin and data analyzed by a computerized nonlinear least-square regression algorithm. Twenty-four hours following cecal ligation with puncture, a decreased number of alpha 1-adrenergic receptors was noted in crude and purified plasma membrane fractions (23 and 40% reductions respectively) from septic animals. No changes in either agonist or antagonist affinity for receptors from septic animals were noted. These data indicate that the catecholamine refractoriness seen in septic shock may be a result of alterations in alpha 1-adrenergic receptor number or receptor-effector coupling.

Topics: Animals; Bacterial Infections; Chronic Disease; Dihydroergotoxine; Disease Models, Animal; Glucose; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Liver; Male; Prazosin; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; Shock, Septic; Tritium

The effects of endotoxin administration on adenylate cyclase in dog liver plasma membranes were studied. The basal, fluoride-, guanine nucleotide-, isoproterenol-, and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were decreased by 61, 62, 69, 83, and 63%, respectively, 2 h after in vivo administration of endotoxin. Endotoxin (100 micrograms/ml) in vitro decreased the guanine nucleotide-, isoproterenol-, and glucagon-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities by 24, 25, and 21%, respectively. These data demonstrate that endotoxin administered in vivo or in vitro had an inhibitory effect on the adenylate cyclase enzyme system in dog liver plasma membranes. Because of the involvement of the adenylate cyclase-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) system in the regulation of hepatic carbohydrate metabolism, the finding that endotoxin administration decreased adenylate cyclase activity in the liver should contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology of altered hepatic glucose homeostasis during shock.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Animals; Cell Membrane; Dogs; Endotoxins; Enzyme Activation; Female; Glucagon; Guanylyl Imidodiphosphate; Isoproterenol; Kinetics; Liver; Male; Shock, Septic; Sodium Fluoride