The role of prostanoids and nitric oxide in endotoxin-induced hyporesponsiveness of equine digital blood vessels

Endotoxin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute laminitis, The aim of this study was to examine the direct effects of endotoxin on isolated equine digital blood vessels. Equine digital veins (EDV), incubated in KrebsHenseleit solution containing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 mu/ml) became hyporesponsive to 5-HT after 16 h, Cycloheximide and ibuprofen blocked this effect of LPS and increased the maximum response obtained to 5-HT when compared to control vessels. L-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) reversed the hyporesponsiveness caused by LPS. Vessels maintained in culture medium containing LPS also became hyporesponsive to 5-HT, an effect which was completely prevented by ibuprofen but only partially reversed by L-NAME. Measurements were made of 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) and nitrite production by segments of equine digital artery and vein in culture medium alone or co-cultured with peripheral blood leucocytes, LPS did not stimulate nitrite production from vessel segments but increased nitrite release from leucocytes, an effect which was inhibited by cycloheximide and L-NAME. Lipopolysaccharide increased 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) production by blood vessels, an effect which was inhibited by cycloheximide and ibuprofen but not L-NAME. No synergistic effect on release of nitrite or 6-keto PGF(1 alpha) was noted in co-cultures of blood vessels and leucocytes, These data suggest that induction of cyclo-oxygenase by LPS was a major cause of hyporesponsiveness of digital blood vessels to 5-HT Release of nitric oxide was not detectable in LPS stimulated blood vessels maintained in culture even in the presence of activated leucocytes yet L-NAME did protect against LPS-induced hyporesponsiveness indicating nitric oxide synthase induction may play some role in the effect of LPS. These findings are important in furthering our understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the vascular changes which occur in acute laminitis.