Table 2.
Semiquantitative histopathologic analysis of New Zealand white rabbits pretreated with saline or LPS and then challenged with aerosolized B. anthracis spores
| Saline | LPS | |
| Lung | 2.6 ± 0.2 | 2.4 ± 0.2 |
| Splenitis | 3.0 ± 0.0 | 3.0 ± 0.0 |
| Lymphadenitis of mediastinal lymph node | 3.0 ± 0.0 | 3.0 ± 0.0 |
| Adenitis of adrenal gland | 1.7 ± 0.3 | 1.4 ± 0.3 |
| Mediastinum | 1.4 ± 0.4 | 1.7 ± 0.3 |
| Renal tubular necrosis | 2.0 ± 0.0 | 2.0 ± 0.0 |
Rabbits were pretreated with saline or LPS (60,000 EU/kg) and then challenged 24 h later with approximately 300 LD50 aerosolized B. anthracis spores. Rabbits either succumbed to inhalational anthrax or were euthanized. Histopathologic finding was graded individually on a severity scale of 0 (none), 1 (minimal), 2 (moderate), and 3 (severe) according to the distribution and extent of tissue injury.