Contribution of Granulocytopenia to Endotoxin Sensitivity of Mice Irradiated or Undergoing Graft Versus Host Disease.

Abstract

Animals compromised by irradiation or graft versus host disease (GVHD) are highly sensitive to endotoxin (ET). In order to determine the causes of the increase in sensitivity in compromised mice, we studied alterations of hepatic (central) and blood-borne (peripheral) ET clearance processes. Male B6CBF1 mice were irradiated bilaterally with 1000 rads Co60 at 45 rads per minute. Mice destined to undergo GVHD received 5,000,000 CBA spleen cells i.v. within 4 hours after irradiation. Increased sensitivity to ET, as determined by mortality, occurs shortly after irradiation and correlates with granulocytopenia and thrombocytopenia rather than with impairmant of liver function. It was also found that intestinal ET contributes to mortality of granulocytopenic-thrombocytopenic mice. This was supported by the observation that bacteriologically decontaminated, irradiated animals were 10 times more resistant to challenge with ET than were conventional animals. Thus, an important aspect of increased sensitivity to ET, in compromised mice is defective peripheral clearance.

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1976
Accession Number
ADA025082

Entities

People

  • J. M. Sheil
  • R. I. Walker

Organizations

  • Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Clearances
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Endotoxins
  • Observation
  • Sensitivity
  • Thrombocytopenia

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Immunology