Abstract
Administration of endotoxin, a lipopolysaccharide extracted from cell walls of gram negative bacteria, elicited alterations in various metabolic parameters and in the electrocardiogram of rats. Cardiac glycogen and serum glucose were decrease, while serum pyruvate and acid phosphatase levels were increased. There was initial tachycardia followed by significant bradycardia and elevation of the ST segment in the animals with shock. Erythrocyte count, haemoglobin and heematocrit were not changed after shock. Treatment with naloxone caused significant decreases in the metabolic and electrocardiographic changes induced by endotoxin.