PENTOXIFYLLINE PRETREATMENT FAILS TO BLOCK THE ACUTE-PHASE RESPONSE TO ESCHERICHIA-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 cytoki nes, had beneficial effects on the acute-phase response to E. coli end otoxin in the dwarf goat. First, the effects of 0.5 mg/kg per min pent oxifylline given intravenously over 15 min were examined in five goats . One week later, the clinical changes caused by i.v. injection of E. coli endotoxin (LPS: 0.1 mu g/kg) were determined. This endotoxin indu ced fever, tachycardia, inhibition of rumen motility, and decreases in plasma zinc and iron concentrations. Three weeks later, the effects o f E. coli LPS were again determined immediately after pentoxifylline i nfusion in the same group of animals. It was concluded that a pharmaco logical dose of pentoxifylline has no protective effects on the acute- phase response reactions induced by a pyrogenic dose of E. coli LPS