A low direct electrical signal attenuates oxidative stress and inflammation in septic rats

PLoS One. 2021 Sep 9;16(9):e0257177. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257177. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Electrical stimulation is proposed to exert an antimicrobial effect according to studies performed using bacterial and cell cultures. Therefore, we investigated the effects of electrification on inflammation in septic rats. Twenty-eight male Wistar albino rats were divided into 4 groups: healthy control (C), electrified healthy (E), sepsis (S), and electrified sepsis (SE) groups. Staphylococcus aureus (1 x 109 colonies) in 1 ml of medium was intraperitoneally injected into rats to produce a sepsis model. The rats in the E and SE groups were exposed to a low direct electrical signal (300 Hz and 2.5 volts) for 40 min and 1 and 6 h after bacterial infection. Immediately after the second electrical signal application, blood and tissue samples of the heart, lung, and liver were collected. An antibacterial effect of a low direct electrical signal was observed in the blood of rats. The effects of electrical signals on ameliorating changes in the histological structure of tissues, blood pH, gases, viscosity and cell count, activities of some important enzymes, oxidative stress parameters, inflammation and tissue apoptosis were observed in the SE group compared to the S group. Low direct electrical signal application exerts antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic effects on septic rats due to the induction of electrolysis in body fluids without producing any tissue damage.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Electricity*
  • Glutathione / blood
  • Inflammation / complications*
  • Inflammation / pathology*
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Malondialdehyde / blood
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Rheology
  • Sepsis / blood
  • Sepsis / complications*
  • Sepsis / microbiology
  • Sepsis / pathology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Biomarkers
  • Cytokines
  • bcl-2-Associated X Protein
  • Malondialdehyde
  • Cholesterol
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Glutathione

Grants and funding

This study was supported by AVB Biotech, Barbaros Street, Deluxia Palace, Number: 3/40, Istanbul, Turkey. The funder provided support in the form of research materials and salaries for authors [IK, RA, GBT]. ST and ST designed and developed the Dr. Biolyse and RA, IK and GBT are employees AVB Biotech, sponsor of the study, and they took part in the application of Dr. Biolyse. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.