Increased Plasma P-Selectin Induced by Intravenous Administration of Endotoxin in Rats

We developed a competitive enzyme immunoassay for detection of rat P-selectin and examined temporal changes of plasma P-selectin levels in an endotoxin-induced injury model in rats. Soluble P-selectin was detected in rat plasma after intravenous administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and increased to a maximum level of five-fold over baseline after 24 hours. Plasma P-selectin was partially purified by gel-filtration and was identified as a 122 kDa band by Western blotting. Using the ELISA system we developed, monitoring of plasma P-selectin has become possible in the rat.