Increased sensitivity to bilateral nephrectomy in rat caused by endotoxemia

In this study the possibility that the kidneys play a role in the removal of endotoxin from the blood was examined. This was carried out by an IP injection of endotoxin (at a dosage of 1 mg/100 gr) to rats that had undergone bilateral nephrectomy, and examining the times of death following various treatments. Furthermore, the rats underwent treatment for endotoxin tolerance or received treatment with the antioxidants Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and natural antioxidant (NAO) or were injected with an inhibitor of the enzyme NOS (N^Gmethyl 1-arginine 1-NMA). The endotoxin concentration in the plasma was also measured. The results of this study indicate the rats were more sensitive to bilateral nephrectomy in the presence of endotoxin. This increased sensitivity in the binephrectomized rat decreases following treatment inducing tolerance to endotoxin, or following treatment with an antioxidant or with the inhibitor of NOS. A possible explanation for the increased sensitivity following endotoxin injection is that it apparently results from an increased concentration of endotoxin in the blood due to the impossibility of removing the endotoxin via the kidneys. Therefore, endotoxin tolerance or abolishing the potential injuries that may be caused by endotoxin negate the sensitivity in the binephrectomized rats injected with endotoxin.