{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,18]],"date-time":"2025-10-18T10:30:15Z","timestamp":1760783415260,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"6","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2011,6,23]],"date-time":"2011-06-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1308787200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/3.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Toxins"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Anthrax lethal toxin (LeTx) and edema toxin (EdTx) have been shown to alter hemodynamics in the rodent model, while LeTx primarily is reported to induce extensive tissue pathology. However, the rodent model has limitations when used for comparison to higher organisms such as humans. The rabbit model, on the other hand, has gained recognition as a useful model for studying anthrax infection and its pathophysiological effects. In this study, we assessed the hemodynamic effects of lethal toxin (LeTx) and edema toxin (EdTx) in the rabbit model using physiologically relevant amounts of the toxins. Moreover, we further examine the pathological effects of LeTx on cardiac tissue. We intravenously injected Dutch-belted rabbits with either low-dose and high-dose recombinant LeTx or a single dose of EdTx. The animals\u2019 heart rate and mean arterial pressure were continuously monitored via telemetry until either 48 or 72 h post-challenge. Additional animals challenged with LeTx were used for cardiac troponin I (cTnI) quantitation, cardiac histopathology, and echocardiography. LeTx depressed heart rate at the lower dose and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at the higher dose. EdTx, on the other hand, temporarily intensified heart rate while lowering MAP. Both doses of LeTx caused cardiac pathology with the higher dose having a more profound effect. Lastly, left-ventricular dilation due to LeTx was not apparent at the given time-points. Our study demonstrates the hemodynamic effects of anthrax toxins, as well as the pathological effects of LeTx on the heart in the rabbit model, and it provides further evidence for the toxins\u2019 direct impact on the heart.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/toxins3060721","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2011,6,24]],"date-time":"2011-06-24T08:19:30Z","timestamp":1308903570000},"page":"721-736","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":16,"title":["Hemodynamic Effects of Anthrax Toxins in the Rabbit Model and the Cardiac Pathology Induced by Lethal Toxin"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"3","author":[{"given":"William  S.","family":"Lawrence","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jeffrey  R.","family":"Marshall","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Diana  L.","family":"Zavala","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Resources Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lori  E.","family":"Weaver","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Resources Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Wallace  B.","family":"Baze","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Bastrop\/ TX 78602, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Scott  T.","family":"Moen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Elbert  B.","family":"Whorton","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Institute of Human Infections, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Randy  L.","family":"Gourley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Animal Resources Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Johnny  W.","family":"Peterson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston\/TX 77555, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2011,6,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2554","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.286.20.2554","article-title":"Death due to bioterrorism-related inhalational anthrax: report of 2 patients","volume":"286","author":"Borio","year":"2001","journal-title":"J. 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