Effect of ulinastatin on brain injury induced by lipopolysaccharide in mice

Objective To evaluate the effect of ulinastatin on brain injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.Methods Ninety adult male C57 mice,aged 3-4 months,weighing 200-300 g,were randomly divided into 3 groups (n =30 each) using a random number table:control group (C group),LPS group and ulinastatin group (U group).Group U received intraperitoneal injection of ulinastatin 10 000 U/kg,while group L received the equal volume of normal saline,and 10 min later brain injury was produced with LPS 1 μg/g injected into the cerebral ventricle.Ten animals were chosen and blood samples were taken for determination of plasma concentrations of S100β protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) at 1,3 and 7 days after LPS injection.Then the animals were sacrificed and hippocampal tissues were obtained for determination of interleukin-1β (IL-1 β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) contents and IL-1β mRNA and TNF-α mRNA expression.Results Compared with C group,the plasma concentrations of S100β protein and NSE and contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly increased at 1,3 and 7 days after LPS injection,and IL-1β mRNA and TNF-α mRNA expression was up-regulated at 1 and 3 days after LPS injection in LPS and U groups.Compared with group LPS,the plasma concentrations of S100β protein and NSE and contents of IL-1β and TNF-α were significantly increased,and IL-1β mRNA and TNF-α mRNA expression was down-regulated at 1 and 3 days after LPS injection in group U.Conclusion Ulinastatin can attenuate brain injury induced by LPS in mice,and the mechanism is related to inhibited inflammatory responses. Key words: Trypsin inhibitors ;  Endotoxemia;  Brain injuries