Methane-rich saline protects against sepsis-associated cognitive deficits in mice

Sepsis is associated with multiple organ dysfunction, and the brain is particularly vulnerable. Sepsis-associated encephalopathy (SAE) increases the mortality of patients with sepsis; however, the pathogenesis of SAE remains unclear. Methane, the simplest aliphatic hydrocarbon, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and organ-protective effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of methane on the cognitive deficits in mice with experimental sepsis. We randomly divided C57BL/6 male mice into sham, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), and CLP + methane-rich saline (MS) groups. Twenty-four hours after surgery, behavioral tests were conducted on surviving mice and the hippocampus were collected for biochemical analysis. We found that CLP resulted in cognitive deficits in septic mice. A physiological mechanistic investigation revealed that microglia in the hippocampus are largely activated, coupled with the production of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Notably, methane inhibited the activation of microglia in the hippocampus, reduced the severity of inflammation, diminished the generation of ROS, and ultimately alleviated behavioral impairment in septic mice. Together, these show that treatment with methane ameliorated cognitive deficits in septic mice, which is partly related to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects in the hippocampus.