ENDOTHELIN-1 AND ENDOTOXEMIA

Sepsis leads to changes in blood volume and distribution. In the exper iments reported here we monitored circulatory changes during endotoxem ia and their relation to portal and systemic levels of endothelin-1 (E T-1). Piglets were monitored cardiovascularly under ketamine anesthesi a for 6 h after an endotoxin infusion (saline controls). ET-1 levels i n plasma were analyzed by RIA. In both portal and systemic blood a two fold increase in ET-1 levels was found after 1 h. This level remained significantly elevated for a further 3 h. This increase was concurrent with a drop in cardiac output, systemic vascular resistance, and bloo d pressure. In the portal circulation there was increased portal press ure and vascular resistance. There was no significant difference betwe en the systemic and ortal levels of ET-1.