R. Koshi et al., ENTERIC VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL RESPONSE TO BACTERIAL-ENDOTOXIN, International journal of experimental pathology, 74(6), 1993, pp. 593-601
The response of enteric vasculature to endotoxin was examined at the u
ltrastructural level using a murine model of endotoxin-induced acute d
iarrhoea. Morphological changes indicative of endothelial damage were
evident as early as 15 minutes following endotoxin challenge. These ch
anges, characterized by widening of intercellular spaces, increased mi
crovillous projections and the appearance of stress fibres, preceded t
he leucocytic response. Endothelial damage increased with time, being
associated with progressive degenerative changes in the plasma membran
e, cytoplasm and organelles, ultimately leading to desquamation. These
latter changes were temporally associated with margination of neutrop
hils and platelet adhesion to the denuded subendothelium. The venules
were the primary site of these changes while the capillaries were the
least affected. The arterioles were markedly constricted with minimal
endothelial damage. These changes suggest that the enteric vascular en
dothelium may be an important target organ, and the resultant endothel
ial injury may have implications in host responses to endotoxin.