Individual behavioral differences in recovery from abdominal sepsis in rats.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study we determined whether individual behavioral differences (high and low locomotor activity) differentially affected recovery from sepsis with high or low mortality.


METHODS
Two trials were performed. Trial 1 with high mortality: Rats were randomly assigned to (1) control-A: anesthesia, (2) control-B: sham surgery, (3) sepsis: laparotomy and peritoneal contamination and infection (PCI) with human stool bacteria, (4) sepsis with antibiotic prophylaxis (cefuroxime/ metronidazole), and (5) sepsis with antibiotic plus G-CSF prophylaxis. Trial 2 with low mortality: Comparison of groups 3 and 5. Endpoints were mortality, behavior (open field and social interaction tests), and proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 = IL-6 and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 = MIP-2).


RESULTS
The combination of antibiotics plus G-CSF was most effective in reducing mortality in both trials and modified sickness behavior. Behavioral deficits were not statistically significantly improved by G-CSF. However, high versus low responders were differentially affected in both behavioral tests. Furthermore, IL-6 and MIP-2 were increased 24 hours after inoculum only in high responders with untreated sepsis and high mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Improvement of sickness behavior in sepsis with G-CSF/antibiotic prophylaxis is a promising approach. The course of recovery from sepsis may depend on premorbid individual differences.
Bauhofer
A
A
Institute of Theoretical Surgery, Philipps-University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany. a-bauhofer@web.de
Ho
Y-J
YJ
Schmitt
A
A
Köster
M
M
Schwarting
R K W
RK
Pawlak
C R
CR
D000818:Animals; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D055809:Illness Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018805:Sepsis / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
D016207:Cytokines; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor