Studies with Radioactive Endotoxin. I. The Use of Cr51 to Label Endotoxin of Escherichia Coli1

Abstract

The endotoxins in different species of gram negative bacteria exhibit remarkably similar bio- logic effects which have been observed in both ex- perimental animals and'man (1-5). These effects may be seen after the injection of living bacteria," killed bacteria, or endotoxin itself; they consist of fever, shock, leukocytosis preceded by leuko- penia, hypoglycemia, diarrhea, and prostration.. Although there are sometimes hemorrhages in the intestine and other viscera, the findings post- mortem are not enough to explain the cause of death or to indicate where the endotoxin acts.