Effects of dexmedetomidine on outcome in rats with sepsis

Objective To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on the outcome in rats with sepsis. Methods Male SD rats, aged 10-14 weeks, weighing 260-390 g, were used in this study. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Ninety rats of successful sepsis model were randomly divided into 3 groups ( n = 30 each) : control group (group C), midasolam group (group M) and dexmedetomidine group (group D). In group C, M and D, normal saline at a rate of 1 ml/h, midazolam at a rate of 0.6 mg·kg-1·h-1 and dexmedetomidine at a rate of 5 μg·kg-1·h-1 were infused iv for 8 h after operation respectively. Ten rats of each group were selected for observation of the survival condition during 24 h after operation. Another 10 rats of each group were selected and blood samples were taken from carotid artery before operation and at 2, 4 and 5 h after operation for measurement of plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 by ELISA. The remaining 10 rats of each group were selected at 8 h after operation for determination of the renal function. The rats still alive after the determination of cytokines and renal function were killed and spleen tissues were taken for determination of the expression of caspase-3 and ubiquitin by Western blot. Results Compared with group C, the plasma concentration of TNF-α and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa+) were significantly decreased, caspase-3 expression in spleen tissues was down-regulated and abiquitin expression in spleen tissues was up-regulated in group M and D ( P 0.05). The plasma concentration of TNF-α was significantly lower in group D than in group M ( P 0.05). The survival rates during 24 h after operation were 10%, 80% and 90% in group C, M and D respectively. The survival rates during 24 h after operation were signifrcantly higher in group M and D than in group C ( P > 0.05). Conclusion Dexmedetomidine can raise the survival rate during sepsis. Key words: Dexmedetomidine;  Sepsis