Effect of ghrelin on septic shock in rats

AIM: To study the role of ghrelin in the late stage of septic shock in rats. METHODS: 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/dt(max), 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. RESULTS: Compared to that of septic shock group, MABP of rats in ghrelin-treated group increased by 33 % (P<0.01). The values of +LVdp/dt(max) and -LVdp/dt(max) 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. CONCLUSION: Treatment with ghrelin could correct partly the abnormalities of hemodynamics and metabolic disturbance in septic shock of rats.