Volume 58 (2008) Issue: 2008 No#2-3

Brain stem and thalamus antioxidative defense in experimental sepsis

Author(s): Ninković Milica, Maličević Ž, Stojanović Dragica, Vasiljević Ivana, Jovanović Marina, Đukić Mirjana

Keywords:brain stem, glutathione, glutathione peroxydase, rat, sepsis, thalamus

Although brain complications in sepsis are not rare, early pathophysiologic events had not been made clear yet. We have considered antioxidative components-glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) concentration in two brain integrative centers, i.e the brain stem (BS) and thalamus. Sepsis was induced in adult male Wistar rats (200-250 g) by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) with inoculation of Escherichia coli suspension (ATCC 25922) (n=40). The control group was sham operated (n=40). For each time point (0, 12, 24 and 72 hours) after treatment, ten animals within each group were decapitated. In BS, GSHPx activity increased at 12 and 24 hours after CLP, while in the thalamus, GSHPx activity increased at 72 hours, compared to controls. In BS, GSH concentration decreased at the 12th and 24th hour, and in the thalamus it decreased at the 72nd hour. Changed oxidative status in BS, recorded as soon as the 12th hour, reflects a prompt reaction of the central nervous system. This could be of great consequence for disturbed vasomotor response during sepsis.