Hormonal, behaviour alterations and brain oxidative stress in sepsis survival animals

Abstract

Sepsis and its consequences, septic shock and organ dysfunction, pose a serious public health problem. Besides the high costs, cause great mortality and the survivors after hospital discharge may have cognitive impairments resulting in future admissions burdening even more the national health system. During sepsis are released cytokines, prostaglandins, leukotrienes, nitric oxide, etc., which can contribute to the encephalopathy and cognitive changes observed in some patients during and after the disease. There are also reports suggesting that these substances may be responsible for the hormonal changes that occur during sepsis. Using the cecal ligation and puncture model for the induction of experimental sepsis, we have investigated the secretion of vasopressin which is increased in the initial phase and decreased in the late phase of sepsis despite persistent hypotension. The reasons for this decreased secretion was investigated in our laboratory showing that besides a impairment in baroreflex and temporary decrease in pituitary stocks of vasopressin, there are signals of oxidative stress in the hypothalamic nuclei where vasopressin is synthesized. Thus, cell death may be responsible for the observed hormonal changes during sepsis. These changes may be due to apoptosis that not only compromises brain regions involved with behavior, but also the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Therefore, investigations on hormonal, comportamental and brain alterations and possible neuroprotectors in animals surviving sepsis can provide information to the health profissionals on the consequences of sepsis and the importance of clinical monitoring these patients after hospital discharge. (AU)