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Updated: Jun 29, 2026
Modeling Encephalopathy of Prematurity Using Prenatal Hypoxia-ischemia with Intra-amniotic Lipopolysaccharide in Rats
Published on: November 20, 2015
LPS-induced endotoxic shock does not cause early brain edema formation - an MRI study in rats
B Rosengarten1, M Walberer, J Allendoerfer
1Department of Neurology, Justus-Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany.
Objective And Design:
Early microcirculatory failure is assumed as a key factor in the development of a septic encephalopathy. However, brain edema is also a common finding in sepsis syndromes possibly interfering with the vasoregulative mechanisms of the brain. We assessed the occurrence of brain edema in a rat model of endotoxic shock.
Material And Subjects:
Eleven mechanically ventilated male CD-rats.
Treatment:
Intravenous application of 5 mg/kg LPS (n = 8) or vehicle (n = 3).
Methods:
Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and T2-relaxation time (T2RT) were quantified on cerebral MRI at baseline and repeatedly for up to 3.5 h after LPS-injection. Change in blood pressure was compensated with norepinephrine. Brain water content was quantified using the wet/dry method.
Results:
All LPS-treated rats developed endotoxic shock. No significant difference in T2RT or ADC was detectable before and after LPS-injection (T2RT: baseline 60.33 +/- 1.21; after 3.5 h 60.15 +/- 0.59; ADC: baseline 6.86 +/- 0.51; after 3.5 h 6.75 +/- 0.33). Post-mortem analysis did not indicate a difference in brain water content between septic and non-septic animals.
Conclusions:
Reports of early microcirculatory failure seem not to be related to the occurrence of early (< or =3.5 h) brain edema.
