Effects of infusion of adenosine triphosphate-magnesium chloride on cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic variables, cytokine activity, and endothelin concentration in horses administered a low dose of endotoxin.

The study assessed the effects of ATP-MgCl2 infusion on horses after exposure to a low dose of endotoxin, focusing on cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic variables, cytokine activity, and endothelin concentration. The results showed no protective effect against endotoxin exposure and a possible aggravation of cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic conditions.

Study Design and Method

• The research was conducted on twelve adult horses, where they were given a low dose of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) or a saline solution intravenously over the span of 30 minutes.
• Immediately after, they were infused with ATP-MgCl2 or a saline solution.
• Two weeks later, the same horses were given the alternate solution followed by the same infusion as before.
• The factors studied were cardiopulmonary and clinicopathologic variables, cytokine activity, and endothelin (ET) concentrations.

Study Results

• The Intravenous (IV) infusion of ATP-MgCl2 after LPS administration did not alleviate the changes that occurred due to exposure to the endotoxin in the cardiopulmonary system or clinicopathologic variables.
• Instead, the combination of LPS and ATP-MgCl2 resulted in heightened pulmonary hypertension, leukopenia, and neutropenia than the combination of LPS and saline.
• Thrombocytopenia was also observed in the LPS and ATP-MgCl2 combination.
• The endothelin concentration in the jugular venous and pulmonary arterial plasma was found to be higher in horses treated with LPS and ATP-MgCl2, a response not observed with the LPS and saline combination.

Conclusions

• The infusion of ATP-MgCl2 did not protect the horses from the systemic effects of experimentally induced endotoxemia.
• The use of ATP-MgCl2 during endotoxemia may worsen cardiopulmonary conditions and clinicopathologic measurements in horses.
• Given that ATP and other adenine nucleotides are released in large quantities from the cells during shock, the study calls for future research to understand their potential role in the development of hemodynamic derangements, leukocyte adherence, and coagulopathies during episodes of endotoxemia.