Effects of the polysaccharide chain of lipopolysaccharide in an experimental massive hepatic cell necrosis model in the mice.

When a small amount (1 microgram) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from Salmonella minnesota wild, Salmonella minnesota R60, and Salmonella minnesota R345 was intravenously injected into mice 7 days after heat-killed Propionibacterium acnes was intravenously injected, massive hepatic cell necrosis was induced and most of the mice died within 24 hours. However, when LPS from Salmonella minnesota R5 and Salmonella minnesota R7 and lipid A from Salmonella minnesota R595 were administered, the survival rate was much higher and no histological changes in the liver such as necrosis could be seen in any of the mice. In each of the LPS used in this study, the structure of the polysaccharide chain was different, and it decreased in the following order: Salmonella minnesota wild----Salmonella minnesota R60----Salmonella minnesota R345----Salmonella minnesota R5----Salmonella minnesota R7----Salmonella minnesota R595. This suggested that the polysaccharide chain of LPS played an important role in the induction of massive hepatic cell necrosis in this experimental model.