Changes of serum neuron specific enolase in rats with septic shock / 中华儿科杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of serum neuron specific enolase in rats with septic shock.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The model of septic shock was set up by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, from Escherichia coil O55 B5) at a dose of 25 mg/kg through femoral vein. Twenty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 2 groups normal control group (LPS was substituted by same volume of normal saline solution) and septic shock group. Six hours after the septic shock model formed, whole blood was taken for measuring the serum neuron specific enolase (NSE). The brains of the rats were taken for histopathological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum NSE of septic shock group was significantly higher than that of control group [(10.0781 +/- 0.526) microg/L vs. (3.7188 +/- 0.602) microg/L, P < 0.05]. Neurons were severely damaged 6 hours after injection of LPS. Neuronal necrosis and the damage of blood-brain barrier were seen by light and electron microscope in septic shock group but not in the control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NSE in serum increased when septic encephalopathy occurred, which indicated that NSE might become a marker of neural damage in septic shock.</p>