The effects of dexmedetomidine on secondary acute lung and kidney injuries in the rat model of intra-abdominal sepsis.

In the present study, the effects of dexmedetomidine on secondary lung and kidney injuries were studied in the rat model of intra-abdominal sepsis by immunohistological and biochemical examinations. We measured serum creatinine, kidney tissue malondialdehide and plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels. In order to evaluate tissue injury we determined kidney tissue mononuclear cell infiltration score, alveolar macrophage count, histological kidney and lung injury scores and kidney and lung tissue immunoreactivity scores. We demonstrated that dexmedetomidine attenuates sepsis-induced lung and kidney injuries and apoptosis in the rat model of sepsis. There is still need for comparative studies in order to determine the effects of dexmedetomidine on organ functions in early human sepsis.

Ischemic preconditioning attenuates lipid peroxidation and apoptosis in the cecal ligation and puncture model of sepsis.

Sepsis and septic shock are are among the major causes of mortality in intensive care units. The lung and kidney are the organs most affected by sepsis. Evidence exists that lipid peroxidation and apoptosis may be responsible for the high mortality due to sepsis. Ischemic preconditioning (IP) is a method for the protection of tissues and organs against ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing reactive oxygen species levels, lipid peroxidation and apoptosis. In the present study, the effects of IP were investigated in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis in rats. The three groups of animals used in the present controlled study were the sham-operated group (sham, n=7), which only underwent a laparotomy; the sepsis group (sepsis, n=7), which underwent cecal ligation and perforation; and the IP + sepsis group (IP+sepsis, n=7), which underwent CLP immediately prior to the application of three cycles of IP to the hind limb. The study was terminated at 6 h after the induction of CLP. Blood, kidney and lung tissue samples were collected for the determination of serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and lung tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, as well as histological examination. The serum creatinine, plasma NGAL and lung tissue MDA levels in the sepsis group were significantly increased compared with those in the sham and the IP+sepsis groups (P<0.05). Alveolar macrophage counts, histological kidney and lung injury scores, kidney (caspase 3) and lung tissue immuonreactivity (M30) scores in the sepsis group were also significantly increased compared with those in the sham and IP+sepsis groups (P<0.05). The alveolar macrophage count in the IP+sepsis group was increased compared with that in the sham group (P<0.05). In conclusion, IP inhibits lipid peroxidation and attenuates histological injury and apoptosis in the lung and kidney during sepsis.