[The effect of trilostane and dexamethasone on serum amino acids and TNF in endotoxemic rats].

ABSTRACT

By the use of specific endogenous GC biosynthesis inhibitor Trilostane and exogenous GC Dexamethasone (Dex), we established three rat models with similar severity of endotoxemia, but different plasma GC level. With these models we studied the effect of elevated plasma GC on serum TNF, pathological changes of vital organs and the changes in serum amino acids and glucose concentration in comparable endotoxemic condition. It was observed that plasma GC level was negatively correlated with the maximum TNF concentration, but positively correlated with the liver tyrosine transaminase activity, serum amino acids and glucose concentrations and as the serum GC level was elevated, the pathological changes of intestine, stomach, liver and lungs became less pronounced. From these results, it was supposed that in severe endotoxemia hypersecration of endogenous GC and maintenance of high level plasma GC are essential for animals to alleviate tissue injuries by reducing the overproduction of the host-derived mediators such as TNF and promoting the metabolism of amino acids and glucose.