Effect of ghrelin on septic shock in rats

To study the role of ghrelin in the late stage of septic shock in rats.

The rat model of septic shock was made by caecal ligation and perforation. At the time of operation ghrelin 10 nmol/kg was infused through femoral vein followed by a sc injection at 8 h after operation. Hemodynamic parameters including heart rate (HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), LVdp/dtmax, and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in survival rats were measured at 18 h after surgery. Plasma glucose and lactate concentrations, plasma ghrelin level and myocardial ATP content were assayed. The mortality rate in rats with septic shock was also observed.

Compared to that of septic shock group, MABP of rats in ghrelin-treated group increased by 33 % (P <0.01). The values of +LVdp/dtmax and -LVdp/dtmax increased by 27 % and 33 %, respectively (P <0.01), but LVEDP decreased by 33 % (P < 0.01). The plasma glucose concentration and myocardial ATP content increased by 53 % and 22 %, respectively, but plasma lactate concentration decreased by 40 % in ghrelin-treated rats (P < 0.01). The plasma ghrelin level in rats with septic shock was 51 % higher than that of rats in sham group, and was negatively correlated with MABP and blood glucose concentration (r=-0.721 and -0.811, respectively, P <0.01). The mortality rates were 47 % (9/19) in rats with septic shock and 25 % (3/12) in rats of ghrelin-treated group, respectively.

Treatment with ghrelin could correct partly the abnormalities of hemodynamics and metabolic disturbance in septic shock of rats.