Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

Abstract

We have observed the symptoms of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) in male rats intoxicated by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Severe hypothermia, tachypnoea and increase in the heart beat min were diagnosed. These symptoms developed in the first hour of intoxication. The hepatic dysfunction was characterized by elevated bilirubin levels. In the sera we have measured increases in the activity of secretable (group II) phospholipase A₂ sPLA₂ (2,8x) and 6-ketoprostaglandin F_1α (KPGF) (1,44x). Supposedly the free radicals derived from CCl₄—mainly trichloromethyl—could induce the prompt reaction of SIRS and the release of sPLA₂ as well as the formation of KPGF. Our findings show that in the early phase of CCl₄ intoxication the symptoms of SIRS can be related to elevation of sPLA₂ and the products of cyclooxygenase II.