Glucose Metabolism and Role of the Blood in Endotoxin Shock

This in vitro study was conducted to explore influences modifying glucose uptake in canine blood administered an estimated LD sub 100 E. coli endotoxin. Particular emphasis was given to assay the role that leukocytes perform in glucose utilization. Results show significant increases in glucose uptake and lactic acid production 1-3 hours following endotoxin addition. Accelerated glucose uptake greatly exceeded basal values and was attributed to increased activity of the white cell. The excess glucose required by the white cell was independent of temperature between the ranges of 34-41C. Endotoxin, however, simultaneously exerted adverse effects by depressing glucose metabolism below predicted values on the basis of Q10 findings and increased white cell mortality rate. Blood pretreated with sublethal doses of endotoxin in vivo was studied under in vitro conditions. All endotoxin-pretreated animals survived superlethal doses of endotoxin. Pretreated blood studied in vitro exhibited accelerated hypoglycemia when subjected to endotoxin, 'activation' of the blood elicited by increasing numbers of white blood cells rather than by enchancement of individual cell activity.