Abstract:

Objective To investigate the effects of different dosages of hydrocortisone(HC) on the disorder of homeostasis in rats at early stage of endotoxic shock.Methods The rat model of early endotoxic shock was induced by intraveneous injection of lipopolysaccharide(LPS,25 mg/kg) through femoral vein.40 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into the following 5 groups: control group(same volume of normal saline LPS and HC substitutes),LPS group(same volume of normal saline as HC substitute),high-dosage HC group(HD group,HC100 mg/kg),middle-dosage HC group(MD group,HC 50 mg/kg) and low-dosage HC group(LD group,HC 5 mg/kg).Four hours after the hydrocortisone treatment,the specimens were collected for blood gas analyses,as well as electrolytes and blood sugar concentrations detections.Results Metabolic acidosis,hyperkalemia,hypernatremia,hypocalcemia and hyperglycemia were observed in LPS group rats(P<0.05).After HC treatment,the metabolic acidosis and hyperkalemia were attenuated in different degrees,and the most significant improvements were found in LD group.Hypocalcemia and hyperglycemia were corrected significantly only in LD group((P<)(0.05)).High-dosage of HC may even aggravate hyperglycemia.The effects of middle-dosage HC is in-between LD and HD groups,and there was no significant difference between HD and MD groups,P>0.05.Conclusion Different dosages of HC had different effects on homeostasis in early endotoxic shock rats.Low dosage of HC may ameliorate the disorder of homeostasis in early endotoxic shock.High-dosage and middle-dose of HC had no significant improvement in the disorder of homeostasis.

Key words: sepsis, endotoxin, shock, hydrocortisone, homeostasis