Streptococcal and Staphylococcal Endocarditis and Renal Lesions in Rats After Epinephrine in Oil and Dibenamine

Summary and Conclusions

Five series of rats were given either 1 or 2, intravenous injections of a broth culture of S. mitis or 2 injections of a culture of Staph, aureus. Each series was divided into a control group given bacteria alone, a group given 2 daily doses of 5 mg/kg epinephrine in oil subcutaneously beginning the day before the first bacterial injection, and a third group receiving, in addition, 2 doses of 50 mg/kg Dibenamine hydrochloride 1 and 2 days before the first dose of epinephrine in oil. The animals receiving bacteria and epinephrine in oil developed a significantly higher incidence of bacterial endocarditis than either controls or rats given Dibenamine prior to epinephrine in oil. The incidence of bacterial lesions involving the renal papilla was also higher in rats given epinephrine in oil than in controls. All groups had a high incidence of focal interstitial nephritis.

It is suggested that a relative and localized hypoxia induced by epinephrine in oil may be a major factor contributing to the increased susceptibility of epinephrine-treated rats to bacterial endocarditis and renal bacterial papillitis.