Comparison of two different models of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture in rats

The present study was designed to explore the difference between two rat models of sepsis and to establish a more stable rat model.

Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation group, simple cecal ligation and perforation group (SCLP), and cecal ligation perforation plus drainage group (CLP-DS). The general condition of the rats was observed, and the time of death and survival rate at 72 h were recorded. The arterial blood and lung tissue were obtained 9 h after the operation.

The mortality of the CLP-DS group was significantly higher than that of the SCLP group. The limitation package, intestinal adhesion, and poor drainage were detected in the SCLP rats, whereas intestinal edema and hyperemia, bloody water in the abdominal cavity, but no inflammatory package were observed 24 h after the operation in the CLP-DS rats by autopsy. There were significant differences in interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels between the SCLP group and the CLP-DS group. Severe pulmonary septal thickening, alveolar wall vascular congestion, and protein debris deposition in the alveolar cavity were observed in the SCLP group, whereas pulmonary bullae were observed in the CLP-DS group using light microscopy, and there were significant difference among groups in Smith lung injury score.

These results suggested that the cecal ligation combined with puncture drainage model of sepsis is more stable than that of the simple cecal ligation and puncture model of sepsis in the rat, which resolved the problem of puncture wrapped in the traditional CLP model of sepsis in rat.