DOI: 10.1097/00000539-199902001-00129
,
Issn Print: 0003-2999
Publication Date: 1999/02/01
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
 |
Checking for direct PDF access through Ovid | |
Excerpt
INTRODUCTION: Sepsis often provokes various neurological disorders. Since many neurologic symptoms are closely related to changes in neurotransmission, we employed an animal model of peritonitis. We examined changes in monoaminergic activity and behavioral alterations.
METHODS: Male Wistar rats, each weighing approximatey 350 g, were anesthetized with halothane. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture. Appropriate sham-operated animals without cecal puncture were prepared. A step-through passive avoidance test was used to evaluate whether sepsis influences the learning process or the post training consolidation process. Passive avoidance retention in animals subjected to training immediately before the operation was examined after 24 h. Retention performance in animals subjected to learning 24 h after the operation was also examined 48 h after the operation. In another set of rats, the brain contents of serotonin and its metabolite, 5 hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), were determined 24 h after the septic or sham operation, and the neuronal activity was evaluated by their ratio.
RESULTS: Passive avoidance retention was impaired in septic rats when they were subjected to training 24 h after the operation, but it was not impaired when they were subjected to training immediately before the operation. The brain concentration of serotonin did not differ between the two groups in any of the examined region. However, the concentration of 5-HIAA in septic rats significantly increased to 142%, 138%, and 128% in the striatum, cortex and hippocampus respectively, but not in the hypothalamus.
DISCUSSION: Because the cerebral cortex and hippocampus are closely related to cognitive ability, the increase in the serotonergic activity may impair learning ability in sepsis.
