Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1999, 189 (3)
Regular Contributions

Interleukin-13 Prevents Diaphragm Muscle Deterioration in a Septic Animal Model

YUMI TAKAHASHI, DAI KATAYOSE1 and CHIYOHIKO SHINDOH

Department of Medical Technology, College of Medical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8575, and 1First Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574

  • The effects of an intravenous injection of Interleukin-13 (IL-13) after endotoxin administration on diaphragm muscle were studied using Wistar rats. Two treatment groups, a control (saline+endotoxin) group and an IL-13 (IL-13+endotoxin) group were studied. E. coli endotoxin (10 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally 5 minutes after saline or IL-13 (0.25 mg) injection. The force-frequency curves, twitch kinetics and fatigability were measured at 0 and 4 hours after endotoxin injection. The force-frequency curves and twitch tension in the control group were significantly lower at 4 hours than those at 0 hour due to endotoxin. On the other hand, IL-13 prevented the decrement of the force-frequency curves and twitch tension induced by endotoxin. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase histochemistry showed positive staining at 4 hours due to endotoxin in the control group; however, IL-13 also blocked NADPH diaphorase staining at 4 hours. Furthermore, the positive muscle fibers detected by the NADPH diaphorase staining were classified as type I (slow twitch) muscle fibers by ATPase staining. We conclude that IL-13 prevents the deterioration of contraction induced by endotoxin by inhibiting nitric oxide production in the diaphragm muscle, mainly the type I muscle fibers.
    Key words--- endotoxin; nitric oxide; NADPH diaphorase
    © 1999 Tohoku University Medical Press


    Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1999, 189,191-202
    Address for reprints: Chiyohiko Shindoh, M.D., Professor, Department of Medical Technology, College of Medical Sciences, Tohoku University, 2-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8575, Japan.
    e-mail: cshindoh@mail.cc.tohoku.ac.jp


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