Objective: To investigate the effects and the mechanism of ketamine on hemodynamics and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels of plasma in septic shock rats.
Methods: Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) was used to reproduce septic shock model. Twenty healthy and male Sprague-Dawlay (SD) rats weighing (225+/-25) g were randomly divided into four equal groups: Sham CLP group, CLP group, ketamine I (KT I) and ketamine II (KT II) group. Thirty minutes before CLP, normal saline (0.9 %) was infused continuously at a rate of 5 ml.kg(-1).h(-1) through the left femoral vein cannula in sham CLP and CLP group, and ketamine (5 mg.kg(-1).h(-1) and 10 mg.kg(-1).h(-1), respectively) was infused continuously in KT I or KT II group. The right femoral artery was cannulated to monitor mean arterial pressure. The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).
Results: CLP produced progressive hypotension, and a large increase in the plasma TNF-alpha and IL-6 concentrations. The hemodynamic responses were reversed and the cytokine responses were suppressed in ketamine treated animals.
Conclusion: Ketamine administration has protective effect against septic shock in CLP rats.