ObjectivesWe have shown previously that inactivation of catecholamines by superoxide anions contributes to the loss of vascular reactivity to norepinephrine and the subsequent hypotension that develops in Gram-negative endotoxic shock. In addition to their vasopressor actions, catecholamines, via &bgr;-adrenoceptor activation, are important regulators of cytokine production. Here we examined if maintenance of serum catecholamine levels by the superoxide dismutase mimetic, M40401, modulates serum cytokine levels and arterial hypotension in anEscherichia coli–infected conscious rat model of septic shock.DesignControlled laboratory animal study.SettingUniversity animal research laboratory.SubjectsPathogen-free male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 51).InterventionsConscious, antibiotic-treated animals with chronic in-dwelling carotid arterial and jugular venous catheters were intravenously infected with 1010liveE. colibacteria (O55:B5, n = 51) over 30 mins, ending at time = 0 hrs. At 0.5 or 3 hrs, infected rats were administered an intravenous infusion of either M40401 (n = 33) or 0.9% saline (n = 18) for 6 hrs at a rate of 1 mL/h. In additional experiments, anesthetized animals with catheterized left femoral arteries and veins were administered a dose-range of norepinephrine (0.1–1 &mgr;g/kg) as bolus intravenous injections. Thereafter,E. colilipopolysaccharide (4 mg/kg, n = 6) was administered as a 0.3-mL slow bolus intravenous injection. One hour later, the norepinephrine protocol was repeated, after which the rats were administered an intravenous infusion of either M40401 or 0.9% saline for 15 mins. At 2 hrs, the dose response to norepinephrine was repeated.Measurements and Main ResultsRats infected with liveE. coliexhibited a biphasic fall in mean arterial pressure, with mortality reaching 83% by 24 hrs. Rats treated with M40401 (0.25, 2.5, or 25 &mgr;g·kg−1·hr−1) 3 hrs after bacteremic sepsis maintained a normal mean arterial pressure, and mortality was dose-dependently reduced to 44, 33, and 22%, respectively, at 24 hrs. Furthermore, serum catecholamine levels were diminished inE. coli–infected rats treated with saline compared with rats treated with M40401. In separate experiments,E. coli–infected rats were administered M40401 (25 &mgr;g·kg−1·hr−1) 0.5 hr after bacterial challenge. Blood samples taken at 0, 1.5, 3.5, and 6 hrs were analyzed for tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, interleukin (IL)-1&bgr;, IL-6, and IL-10 and for norepinephrine and epinephrine. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-&agr; and IL-1&bgr; were significantly depressed in M40401-treated septic rats, whereas IL-10 was elevated. Moreover, serum catecholamine levels were greater in M40401-treated septic rats at the same time points. IL-6 levels were unaffected by M40401 treatment. Finally we examined whether treatment with M40401 could reverse the hyporeactivity to norepinephrine typifying early septic shock. Using theE. colilipopolysaccharide (4 mg/kg) challenged anesthetized rat model of shock, we demonstrated that the vasoconstrictor ability of norepinephrine was indeed restored after M40401 treatment (25 &mgr;g/kg).ConclusionPostinfection treatment with the superoxide dismutase mimetic M40401 protects against hypotension, vascular hyporeactivity to catecholamines, and mortality associated with septic shock. Such beneficial effects correlate with both reduced oxidative inactivation of serum catecholamines and a reduction in canonical cytokine mediators of inflammation.