Effects of exogenous fat emulsion on lymphocyte function in septic rats

Effects of exogenous fat emulsion (Intralipid) on lymphocyte function were studied, in vivo, with rats. Abdominal sepsis was induced in Sprague Dawley rats by cecal ligation and puncture. Following a bolus infusion of the fat emulsion or normal saline, lymphocyte proliferations after stimulation with bacto-concanavalin A (Con A), phytohemagglutinin (PHA), and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) were evaluated in animals divided into the following groups: group I, non-septic rats receiving saline infusion (NS-S); group II, non-septic rats receiving the fat emulsion (NS-F); group III, septic rats receiving saline (S-S); group IV, septic rats receiving the fat emulsion (S-F). Results of the study demonstrated that lymphocyte function was not suppressed by the presence of sepsis, and infusion of the exogenous fat emulsion also did not lead to a suppression of the lymphocyte function in either the septic or the non-septic rats. The results obtained from a previous, as well as this present, study suggest that although infusion of exogenous fat emulsion may suppress the function of monocyte and polymorphonuclear cells, lymphocyte function is not affected.