Increased adrenal secretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine after endotoxin and its reversal with corticosteroids

Abstract

Two groups of dogs were subjected to an LD60 of E. coli endotoxin. Group II animals were pretreated with 30 mg/kg of methyl prednisolone sodium succinate before the intravenous endotoxin. All animals had hypotension and diminished cardiac index after endotoxin administration.The nonsteroid dogs, Group I, demonstrated increased adrenal secretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine. Arterial plasma catecholamines were comparable. Group II steroid-treated animals demonstrated lower adrenal secretion of norepinephrine and epinephrine when compared to Group I, nonsteroid animals. These results demonstrate that pretreatment with pharmacologic doses of synthetic corticosteroids exerts a specific effect on the adrenal medulla in endotoxin shock that profoundly limits adrenal catecholamine release.