CHANGES IN MUSCLE AND LIVER LACTATE CONCENTRATIONS AFTER ENDOTOXIN INFUSION IN RATS

The interstitial lactate concentration in rat skeletal muscle and live r was measured using a microdialysis method during the early stage of endotoxemia and during lactic acid infusion. The lactate concentration in the muscle and liver interstitium never exceeded the blood lactate concentration throughout the 180 min period after endotoxin administr ation. The present findings also showed that the muscle and liver inte rstitial lactate concentration gradually increased in endotoxin-infuse d animals compared to that in lactic-acid infused animals, although th e blood lactate concentration in lactic acid-infused animals was the s ame as that in endotoxin-infused animals. These findings suggest that the skeletal muscle and liver may consume lactate in an endotoxemic co ndition. However, the capacity of lactate consumption in the skeletal muscle might gradually decrease after endotoxin administration, althou gh that in liver might be well preserved. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.