Pentoxifylline pretreatment fails to block the acute-phase response toEscherichia coli endotoxin in dwarf goats

The purpose of this study was to assess whether pentoxifylline, a drug that can inhibit the production and action of pro-inflammatory cytokines, had beneficial effects on the acute-phase response toE. coli endotoxin in the dwarf goat. First, the effects of 0.5 mg/kg per min pentoxifylline given intravenously over 15 min were examined in five goats. One week later, the clinical changes caused by i.v. injection ofE. coli endotoxin (LPS: 0.1 µg/kg) were determined. This endotoxin induced fever, tachycardia, inhibition of rumen motility, and decreases in plasma zinc and iron concentrations. Three weeks later, the effects ofE. coli LPS were again determined immediately after pentoxifylline infusion in the same group of animals. It was concluded that a pharmacological dose of pentoxifylline has no protective effects on the acute-phase response reactions induced by a pyrogenic dose ofE. coli LPS Abbreviations AMP adenosine phosphate - APR acute-phase response - GMP guanosine phosphate - IL interleukin - i.v. intravenous - LPS lipopolysaccharides - NO nitric oxide - POF pentoxifylline - r recombinant - SEM standard error of mean - TNF tumour necrosis factor