Factors involved in the fatal susceptibility to submicrogram doses of endotoxin in cycloheximide-treated mice.

Analysis of fatal sensitivity to 0.2 microgram of S. enteritidis lipopolysaccharide in cycloheximide-treated mice identified two independent lethal elements. First, an absolute requirement for steroid supplementation to ensure survival suggests a crucial role for cycloheximide-mediated inhibition of steroidogenesis. The second factor is the development of virtually total bilateral renal cortical necrosis, itself a consequence of glomerular capillary occlusion with fibrin-like material. The survival of cycloheximide and endotoxin-challenged mice requires both hydrocortisone treatment and defibrination with ancrod. Cycloheximide and a smaller dose of endotoxin (0.1 microgram per mouse) is also fatal, but here steroid deficiency is not a crucial factor, protection being conferred by ancrod defibrination alone.