Increased intestinal formation of Paf in endotoxin-induced damage in the rat.

Platelet-activating factor (Paf) has been proposed as a mediator of the gastrointestinal damage in endotoxic shock. The formation of Paf in rat jejunal tissue, determined following extraction and bioassay on rabbit washed platelets has therefore been correlated with the induction of damage following endotoxin administration. Intravenous injection of E. coli endotoxin led to a time-dependent increase in the jejunal formation of Paf, which after 20 min was twenty fold greater than the control level. There was a significant correlation between elevated Paf release and intestinal hyperaemia and haemorrhage, thus supporting a role for Paf as a mediator of such damage.