title: The effect of progesterone on systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in the rat model of sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the protective effect of progesterone on inflammation and oxidative stress in a rat model of sepsis created by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: Overiectomy group (OVX), sham operated (control), sepsis (CLP) group and progesterone-treated CLP group (CLP+ progesterone). The rats in CLP+ progesterone group received intraperitoneal progesterone (2 mg/kg). Cardiac blood samples were obtained for the measurement levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). Tissue samples, including liver, kidney and uterus of rats were prepared to determine activities of myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Increased serum IL-6 and TNF-α levels were found in the CLP group in comparison with the control group (P = 0.01, P = 0.02; respectively). In CLP+ progesterone group, mean MDA concentration of kidney tissue was significantly lower than in CLP group (P = 0.003). Liver MDA concentration of the CLP+ progesterone group was not significantly different from that of the control group. While there were no significant differences among groups regarding liver MPO; in the CLP group, MPO activity in kidney (P = 0.02) and uterine tissues (P = 0.03) were found to be significantly higher compared to the control group. In CLP+ progesterone group, mean MPO activities of all tissues were not different than those of control group. The uterine tissue GPx activity in the CLP+ progesterone group was not statistically significantly different from control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that progesterone ameliorates sepsis syndrome by reduction of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, and by restoration of antioxidant enzyme activities in some tissues.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obsterics and Gynecology, Nenehatun Hospital, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse Nur
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Konya University, Konya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toker
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Goverment Hospital of Oltu, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muhammet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Celık
authors.affiliation: Departments of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zekai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Halıcı
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hulya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aksoy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D011374:Progesterone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011374:Progesterone; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D009195:Peroxidase
keywords: Inflammation; oxidative stress; progesterone; sepsis