Effects of low dosage hydrocortisone on brain injury in rats with septic shock

Objective To assess the effects of hydrocortisone (HC) on brain injury in septic shock rats induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods Pathogen-free Wistar male rats were chosen to produce septic shock model by injection of LPS (Escherichia coil, O55: B5), 25 mg/kg LPS was given by femoral vein. All rats in accordance with the random number table, were randomly divided into 3 groups: normal control group, LPS group, and low dose of HC group (HC 5 mg/kg). Every group had ten rats. Six hours after the septic shock model was established, the blood sample and brain tissue were collected to perform histopathological examination and measure the serum level of neuron specific enolase (NSE). Results The serum level of NSE, brain water content, inflammation score, neural damage score, vascular reaction score in LPS group were significantly higher than those in control group[(10.078±0.526) μg/L vs.(3.719±0.602) μg/L, (82.328±0.011)% vs.(78.896±0.005)%, (2.750±0.463) scores vs. (0.125±0.345) scores, (2.875±0.353) scores vs. (1.125±0.354) scores, (2.875±0.463) scores vs. (0.500±0.534) scores, P<0.01, respectively]. After HC treatment, the serum level of NSE, brain water content, and brain tissue pathological score[(6.297±1.393) μg/L, (80.283±0.005)%, (0.625±0.744) scores, (1.375±0.744) scores, (1.250±0.463) scores] were significantly lower than those in LPS group (P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion After giving low dose of HC, the serum level of NSE, brain edema, brain pathological changes all got improvement, which indicated that low dose HC could have protect effect on septic encephalopathy induced by LPS. Key words: Hydrocortisone; Septic shock; Encephalopathy; Rat