Abstract

We investigated the efficacy of tachyplesin III and clarithromycin in two experimental rat models of severe gram-negative bacterial infections. Adult male Wistar rats were given either (i) an intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg Escherichia coli 0111:B4 lipopolysaccharide or (ii) 2 x 10(10) CFU of E. coli ATCC 25922. For each model, the animals received isotonic sodium chloride solution, 1 mg/kg tachyplesin III, 50 mg/kg clarithromycin, or 1 mg/kg tachyplesin III combined with 50 mg/kg clarithromycin intraperitoneally. Lethality, bacterial growth in the blood and peritoneum, and the concentrations of endotoxin and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in plasma were evaluated. All the compounds reduced the lethality of the infections compared to that for the controls. Tachyplesin III exerted a strong antimicrobial activity and achieved a significant reduction of endotoxin and TNF-alpha concentrations in plasma compared to those of the control and clarithromycin-treated groups. Clarithromycin exhibited no antimicrobial activity but had a good impact on endotoxin and TNF-alpha plasma concentrations. A combination of tachyplesin III and clarithromycin resulted in significant reductions in bacterial counts and proved to be the most-effective treatment in reducing all variables measured.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.