The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) protects adrenal function in septic rats administered etomidate.
BACKGROUND
Both hyperinflammation during sepsis and etomidate can suppress adrenal function. In this study, we explored whether treatment with pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) relieves adrenal suppression in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced septic rats.


METHODS
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=7 per group), including the sham group, sepsis group (CLP group), sepsis and etomidate group (CLP+ETO group), PACAP group, and etomidate alone group (ETO group). Rats were sacrificed on the third day of sepsis, and blood and adrenal gland samples were obtained for further testing.


RESULTS
The PACAP reduced the apoptosis rate of adrenal cells and peripheral lymphocytes, improving adrenal function, inhibiting the secretion of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) from peripheral lymphocytes, and slightly relieving the suppression of the adrenal function induced by the injection of etomidate in sepsis.


CONCLUSIONS
In septic conditions, the PACAP protects the adrenal gland by regulating peripheral inflammation, which slightly relieves the toxic effects of etomidate on adrenal function.
Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Na
N
Liu
Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Yu
Y
Zhang
Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China. Electronic address: jyxiong0639@163.com.
Jun-Yu
JY
Xiong
Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Shan
S
Liu
Laboratory of Clinical Medicine, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Jie
J
Zhu
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
Shen
S
Lv
D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000293:injuries / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005045:Etomidate / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D008026:Ligation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism
D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D051219:Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003345:Corticosterone; D005045:Etomidate
Etomidate; Inflammation; PACAP; Rat; Sepsis