Role of nitric oxide pathway in the protection against lethal endotoxemia afforded by low doses of lipopolysaccharide.

Abstract

Survival after lipopolysaccharide challenge (LD80, 20 mg.kg-1, i.p.) was significantly enhanced by previous treatment with a microdose of LPS (50 micrograms.kg-1, i.v.). When NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, a specific inhibitor of the formation of nitric oxide from L-arginine, was given 30 minutes before microdose, survival was significantly reduced. When we monitored the serum Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) levels in both groups a significant reduction of TNF level after the microdose was observed in mice previously treated with L-NMMA. The ability of L-NNMA to reduce TNF release was dose dependent.

• Authors: A Rojas, J Padrón, L Caveda, M Palacios, S Moncada
• Journal: Biochemical and biophysical research communications (Biochem Biophys Res Commun) Vol. 191 Issue 2 Pg. 441-6 (Mar 15 1993) ISSN: 0006-291X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8461002 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Lipopolysaccharides
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
• omega-N-Methylarginine
• Nitric Oxide
• Arginine

Topics

• Animals
• Arginine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Lipopolysaccharides (administration & dosage, therapeutic use, toxicity)
• Male
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Nitric Oxide (metabolism)
• Sepsis (etiology, metabolism, prevention & control)
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (metabolism)
• omega-N-Methylarginine