Effects and mechanisms of low-dose hydrocortisone on brain dysfunction in LPS- induced sepsis in rats / 中华急诊医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effects of low-dose hydrocortisone on brain dysfunction in LPS-induced sepsis rats and the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-?B) signal transcription pathway in the pathogenesis. Methods Fifty-four rats were randomly divided into 3 groups control group (A group, n=6), model group (B group, n=24), low-dose HC treatment group(C group, n=24). The septic rat model was established by intra-peritoneal injection of LPS (1 mg/kg), the intervention was by caudal vein injection of low-dose HC (6 mg/kg), each of B and C group was subdivided into 2,8,16,24 hours after LPS injection (n=6).At serial time points,the animals in each group were sacrificed , brain tissue samples were harvested to determine NF-?B,I?B expression in hippocampus by immunohistochemistry. Also, the changes of behaviors were observed and the histopathological changes were investigated by Nissl stain.Results In model group (B group) lethargy, anorexia, tachypnea, piloerection, loss of body weight were all more obvious than control groups.Nissl stain showed significant histopathological changes; NF-?B expression was up regulated compared with control group(P