Endotoxin concentrations in the blood following intravenous injection and effect on prostaglandin F2 alpha release, calcium and bile acids in goats

Injection of endotoxin from Salmonella typhimurium in male goats resulted in a biphasic release pattern of PGF2 alpha, as determined by 15-ketodihydro-PGF2 alpha concentrations in plasma. A small initial peak at 30 minutes was followed by a second peak one hour after injection. The rectal temperature increased three to five hours after endotoxin injection and calcium concentrations started to decrease soon after injection; a significant decrease was seen from 105 minutes. Endotoxin concentrations varied among the animals but had a tendency to increase three hours after injection, simultaneously with a decrease in bile acid concentrations three hours after injection. The decrease in bile acids indicated alimentary stasis. Therefore, the raised endotoxin levels could be of endogenous origin. This study also shows that the prostaglandin metabolite is a very reliable parameter for estimating the effect of endotoxin.