Adrenergic Inhibition and Lethal Effect of Bacterial Endotoxin in Mice

Abstract

Summary

1) Protective effects of various types of adrenergic inhibition have been tested against lethal action of injected bacterial endotoxin in mice. 2) Preliminary experiments substantiated abilities of phenoxybenzamine to block lethal effect of injected epinephrine and of cocaine to augment its toxicity. 3,4-Dichloroisoproterenol also increased lethal effect of epinephrine. TM 10, or 2,6-xylyloxyethyltrimethylammonium bromide had no effect acutely but offered low order of protection when given 24 hours before epinephrine. Reserpine also protected when given 24 hours in advance. Iproniazid was without effect. 3) Against bacterial endotoxin from E. coli the only compound to give significant protection was 3,4-dichloroisopreterenol. This substance has been shown by previous workers to block inhibitor and vasodilator effects of epinephrine and related catechol amines. Such effects are probably metabolic in nature and may concern carbohydrate metabolism.