Effect of colchicine on the changes of serum activity of tumour necrosis factor in rabbits with endotoxic shock

Objective In order to determine the effect of colchicine(Col) on the changes of serum activity of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) induced by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) in rabbits.Methods Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were equally divided into 2 groups, namely group A and group B. Rabbits in group A were intravenously administered with 0.2ml/ kg of normal saline (NS) from 67h before LPS inje ction, while those in group B were given 0.5mg/ kg of Col instead of NS at the same time course.Endotoxic shock was induced by intravevous injection of 2μg/ kg of LPS after the challenge by Bacillus Calmette Guerin(BCG). Results Prior infusion of Col significantly decreased the peak levels of serum TNF activity ( P 0.05), and prevented the rabbits from decrease of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and white blood cell (WBC) count.Conclusion Col can inhibit the synthesis or secretion of TNF in vivo.