Studies on pyrogenic tolerance to bacterial lipopolysaccharide in rabbits.

The development of pyrogenic tolerance was studied in rabbits treated with varying doses of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The following results were obtained. 1) Development of pyrogenic tolerance seemed to proceed in two steps: that is, the first in which tolerance appeared rapidly and the second in which tolerance proceeded more gradually or steadily in response to repeated injections of a constant dose. 2) Tolerance induced by the latter method was not absolute; the rabbits were still sensitive to increased doses of LPS. 3) Rabbits immunized with E. coli vaccine lost their pyrogenic sensitivity of parent LPS to some extent. 4) Following intracisternal injection of LPS into tolerant rabbit, pyrogenic response was not decreased but rather enhanced in comparison with control. 5) The contents of nor-epinephrine and serotonin in the brain did not differ between normal and tolerant rabbits. 6) The mechanisms of endotoxin tolerance remain to be further studied.