Endotoxin-Induced Myocardial Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Synthesis Depresses Contractility of Isolated Rat Hearts

Abstract

LPS depresses contractility of isolated rat hearts by inducing TNF-alpha synthesis and subsequently activating the sphingomyelinase pathway, whereas no evidence for a role of NOSII- or NOSIII-generated NO was found. Moreover, Cox-2-derived TxA(2) appears to facilitate TNF-alpha synthesis in response to LPS.