prednisolone-hemisuccinate and Shock--Septic

To evaluate the effect of certain drugs on hematologic changes, blood chemical values, and survival in endotoxin shock, anesthetized ponies were given (IV) endotoxin (Escherichia coli O55:B5) and then treated as follows: Group A ponies--given a saline infusion at 5 minutes and at 3 hours after they were given endotoxin; group B ponies--given flunixin meglumine at 5 minutes and at 3, 6, 9, and 24 hours after they were given endotoxin; group C ponies--treated with dexamethasone; and group D ponies--treated with prednisolone at 5 minutes and at 3, 9, and 24 hours after they were given endotoxin. Anesthesia was maintained for 4 hours, after which time the ponies were allowed to recover. Throughout the experiment, samples of blood were collected for blood gas, hematologic, and blood chemical values. The endotoxin effects were seen in the 4 groups: lactic acidosis, prolonged coagulation times, leukopenia, hemoconcentration, and elevated blood chemical values. Although none of the treatments prevented the effects of endotoxin, changes were less severe and survival times were longer in ponies treated with flunixin meglumine.

Topics: Animals; Blood Cell Count; Blood Chemical Analysis; Blood Coagulation Tests; Blood Gas Analysis; Clonixin; Dexamethasone; Endotoxins; Escherichia coli; Female; Hematocrit; Horse Diseases; Horses; Male; Nicotinic Acids; Prednisolone; Shock, Septic

In nonanesthetized young pigs, the influence of prednisolone sodium succinate therapy on a 65% lethal dose of Escherichia coli endotoxin was studied by evaluating clinical signs, several hemodynamic variables, survival rate, and changes seen at necropsy. Endotoxin infusion induced reproducible clinical signs characterized by nausea, vomiting, dyspnea, cyanosis, and moderate excitement followed by severe CNS depression. Among the hemodynamic variables, there were decreases in arterial blood pressure and cardiac output and increases in pulmonary arterial pressure, heart rate, and total peripheral and pulmonary vascular resistances. Core temperature and arterial pH did not change significantly. Survival rate at 30 hours after the start of the endotoxin infusion was 35%. According to the necropsy, marked edema and hemorrhages were in several organs. Treating the experimental animals with prednisolone sodium succinate (3 injections of 10 mg/kg of body weight after the start of the endotoxin infusion) did not influence any of the monitored hemodynamic variables, except for arterial blood pressure, which was higher at the end of the hemodynamic recording period (270 minutes after the start of the endotoxin infusion). Clinical signs, survival rate, and changes at necropsy were similar in both treated and nontreated pigs. This lack of effect can be due to an inappropriate dosage of the steroid or failure of steroid treatment to alleviate endotoxin-mediated effects.

Topics: Animals; Body Temperature; Electrocardiography; Escherichia coli; Female; Hemodynamics; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Lipopolysaccharides; Prednisolone; Shock, Septic; Swine; Swine Diseases

In anesthetized pigs, the influence on cardiovascular performance and on survival rate of IV administration of a large dose of endotoxin (0.5 mg/kg of body weight) was examined. This dose of endotoxin (LD100) resulted in a progressively evolving deterioration of cardiovascular functions and in the death of all animals within 210 minutes (mean +/- SEM: 107 +/- 13 minutes) after it was given. The IV injection of prednisolone sodium succinate, 10 mg/kg at 25 minutes before dosing the pigs with endotoxin resulted in a significant increase in survival time. This effect of the glycocorticoid can only partly be ascribed to an amelioration of the cardiovascular dysfunctions.

Topics: Animals; Cardiovascular System; Female; Prednisolone; Shock, Septic; Swine; Swine Diseases; Time Factors

Foreign materials were inserted into the hens' uteri and anti-inflammatory and immune suppressant drugs were used to determine possible causes of shell-less eggs. The presence of foreign shell-membranes and tampons in the uteri (shell glands) of hens caused a toxic shock-like syndrome ( TSLS ). Primary clinical signs were high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and death. The presence of other materials, including inflated rubber balloons, had no adverse affect on the hens. Calcium carbonate deposits occurred on the surface of the balloons but not on other material inserted into the uteri. Injection of anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs did not increase shell weight in hens laying shell-less eggs. The hens' reproductive system was found to be sensitive in varying degrees to different types of foreign materials; thus, the avian female might serve as an animal model for studying toxic shock syndrome.

Topics: Animals; Calcification, Physiologic; Chickens; Cyclophosphamide; Disease Models, Animal; Egg Shell; Female; Foreign Bodies; Humans; Poultry Diseases; Prednisolone; Shock, Septic; Tampons, Surgical

A concentration of 1.4 X 10(9) Escherichia coli was added to tubes containing 10 ml of freshly collected blood from dogs to determine if prednisolone sodium succinate altered in vitro E coli mortality, glucose utilization, or neutrophil destruction. Group 1 tubes contained organisms plus saline solution, group 2 tubes had E coli plus 140 microgram of prednisolone/ml, and group 3 tubes contained E coli plus 1,400 microgram of prednisolone/ml. Initial and final WBC, RBC, PCV and E coli concentrations were determined on each group. Blood glucose values were measured from zero time through +2 hours. There was a significant (P less than 0.001) reduction in the number of E coli in vitro for all groups, but there was no difference among the groups. Fewer neutrophils (P less than 0.01) were lost in the tubes containing either concentration of prednisolone than in the tubes containing E coli alone. At the therapeutic amount of prednisolone (group 2) the glucose utilization was not significantly (P greater than 0.05) different from the utilization in the control group; however, at 10 X the therapeutic amount of prednisolone (group 3), there was an increase in glucose utilization. Seemingly, prednisolone does not alter in vitro E coli destruction and aids in preserving neutrophils of canine blood.

Topics: Animals; Blood Glucose; Cell Survival; Dogs; Endotoxins; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Leukocyte Count; Neutrophils; Prednisolone; Shock, Septic