Associated Leukocyte Responses in the Lethal Aspects of E. coli Shock 1

Dogs administered lethal injections of E. coli endotoxin or E. coli organisms develop systemic hypotension, hypoglycemia, and hepatosplanchnic dysfunction (1-4). Progressively decreasing blood glucose levels after endotoxin or E. coli administration are due in large part to depressed hepatic function, particularly gluconeogenesis (4-7). Accelerated glucose uptake has been reported following in vitro incubation of either endotoxin or live E. coli organisms in blood, and white blood cell (WBC) phagocytic activity has been implicated as the primary responsible factor (2). Increased phagocytic activity of the blood after endotoxin (8) has been traced to the buffy coat (9) and the leukocyte (10). Recent reports have shown circulating neutrophils to be of major importance in the clearance of bacterial organisms (11) or endotoxin (12) from the blood, while others have described beneficial effects of transfused WBCs in patients and animals in septic shock (13, 14).

The purpose of the present study was to explore the responses of canine blood to the separate effects of E. coli organisms and E. coli endotoxin, particularly emphasizing the role of the WBC in the uptake of glucose in vitro and its possible relationship to survival in vivo.

Materials and methods. In vivo experiments were carried out on 12 awake adult mongrel dogs during a 4-day period. On the fourth day, venous blood was drawn from each animal and additionally studied in the in vitro state. Animals, selected for robust health and absence of heart worms, were treated for intestinal parasites and conditioned in the animal facility for 3-6 weeks prior to use. Dogs with initial WBC counts between 7000 and 20,000/mm³ and hema-tocrits exceeding 37% were utilized in the experiments.

In vivo studies. Unanesthetized, gently restrained animals were divided into paired control and experimental groups which were studied simultaneously.