Effect of Acetylsalicylic Acid on the Liver Response to Endotoxin

Abstract

The present investigation was devised to study the mechanism of the canine liver response to endotoxin. Experiments were carried out on an in situ liver preparation with controlled hepatic arterial and portal venous blood flows. Fifty mg acetylsalicylic acid/kg administered intravenously prior to endotoxin injection prevented the decrease in mean systemic arterial pressure and obliterated the constriction observed in both hepatic artery and hepatic vein in animals given endotoxin alone. The mechanism of action of acetylsalicylic acid is unknown.