Summary
In rats a single injection of endotoxin followed by an infusion of normal saline induced
the generalized Shwartzman reaction. The presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation
(DIC) was demonstrated by measuring plasma fibrinogen, platelet counts, schistocytes,
plasma haemoglobin, fibrin(ogen) degradation products, and fibrin thrombi in the glomerular
capillaries. 125I-fibrinogen was given after triggering DIC in order to examine the fibrinogen turnover
in plasma and the kinetics of fibrin deposition and removal in kidney, liver, and
spleen. 125I-fibrinogen turnover was found to be highly accelerated. Early deposition and removal
were observed in the kidneys, while a later peak with a more delayed fall of radioactivity
was noted in liver and spleen. On histological examination fibrin could be seen only
in the glomerular capillaries and only in the early phase of DIC. In radioautographs
radioactive material was localized in the glomerular capillaries, the Kupffer’ cells
of the liver, and in the perifollicular macrophages of the spleen. Comparing the results
obtained by scintillation counting to those obtained by light microscopy it can be
assumed that radioactivity in kidneys is correlated to fibrin deposition in glomerular
capillaries and to an accumulation of fibrin(ogen) degradation products in liver and
spleen.
