We compared the effects of calpain inhibitor I (inhibitor of the proteolysis of IκB and, hence, of the activation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB)) and dexamethasone on (i) the circulatory failure, (ii) multiple organ dysfunction and (iii) induction of the inducible isoforms of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and cyclo‐oxygenase (COX‐2) in anaesthetized rats with endotoxic shock.

Injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, E. coli, 10 mg kg⁻¹, i.v.) resulted in hypotension and a reduction of the pressor responses elicited by noradrenaline. This circulatory dysfunction was attenuated by pretreatment of LPS‐rats with calpain inhibitor I (10 mg kg⁻¹, i.v., 2 h before LPS) or dexamethasone (1 mg kg⁻¹, i.v.).

Endotoxaemia also caused rises in the serum levels of (i) urea and creatinine (renal dysfunction), (ii) alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (hepatocellular injury), bilirubin and γ‐glutamyl transferase (γGT) (liver dysfunction), (iii) lipase (pancreatic injury) and (iv) lactate. Calpain inhibitor I and dexamethasone attenuated the liver injury, the pancreatic injury, the lactic acidosis as well as the hypoglycaemia caused by LPS. Dexamethasone, but not calpain inhibitor I, reduced the renal dysfunction caused by LPS.

Endotoxaemia for 6 h resulted in a substantial increase in iNOS and COX‐2 protein and activity in lung and liver, which was attenuated in LPS‐rats pretreated with calpain inhibitor I or dexamethasone.

Thus, calpain inhibitor I and dexamethasone attenuate (i) the circulatory failure, (ii) the multiple organ dysfunction (liver and pancreatic dysfunction/injury, lactic acidosis, hypoglycaemia), as well as (iii) the induction of iNOS and COX‐2 protein and activity in rats with endotoxic shock. We propose that prevention of the activation of NF‐κB in vivo may be useful in the therapy of circulatory shock or of disorders associated with local or systemic inflammation.