Induction of Intravascular Coagulation and Renal Cortical Necrosis in Rabbits by Simultaneous Injection of Thorotrast and Endotoxin

Abstract

Summary: Preparation of rabbits with 6 ml./kg. of Thorotrast, administered intravenously, permits the induction of intravascular clotting and the production of renal cortical necrosis with simultaneous injections of E. coli endotoxin. With this dose of Thorotrast, a dose‐response relationship was observed between the fall in fibrinogen after 4 hours and doses of endotoxin ranging from 5 to 50 μg./kg. body weight. With such preparation, renal cortical necrosis occurred in 46 per cent of animals receiving 100μg./kg. of endotoxin and increased to 80 per cent in animals receiving 100 μg./kg. Thorotrast preparation with 3 ml./kg. permits intravascular clotting to occur with a single injection of endotoxin administered simultaneously. However, no relationship between endotoxin dose and fibrinogen depletion was observed and renal cortical necrosis developed only with relatively high doses of endotoxin. An efficient and predictable experimental model for studying both intravascular clotting and renal cortical necrosis is described by these observations.

Generalized Shwartzman Reaction: Role of the Granulocyte in Intravascular Coagulation and Renal Cortical Necrosis

“…Staining of the final suspension with iodine did not detect any intra-or extracellular starch granulcs. The GSR was produced with simultaneous injection of Thorotrast and endotoxin as previously described (Seeler, Forman, Bolger, Abildgaard and Schulman, 1969). After obtaining baseline blood samples, groups of animals were injected with Thorotrast (6 kl./kg.)…”