Published online Feb 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i2.347
Revised: July 4, 2002
Accepted: July 19, 2002
Published online: February 15, 2003
AIM: To investigate the role of tri-iodothyronine supplement in protecting gut barrier in septic rats.
METHODS: Twenty-two rats were randomized into three groups: sham group (n = 6), sepsis group (n = 8), and sepsis plus tri-iodothyronine (T3) group (n = 8). Septic rat model was established through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). After 5 h, sham and sepsis groups received saline, and the remaining group received T3 intraperitoneally. Twenty-one hours after CLP, intestinal permeability and serum free T3 and T4 were measured with fluorescence spectrophotometer and by radioimmunoassay, respectively. Intestinal ultrastructure and histologic morphology were observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy, respectively.
RESULTS: After 21 h, septic symptoms and signs in sepsis plus T3 group were milder than those in sepsis group. Serum FT3 or FT4 concentration in sepsis group was lower than that in sham group (1.59 ± 0.20, 3.41 ± 2.14 pmol/L vs 3.44 ± 1.40,9.53 ± 3.39 pmol/L, P < 0.05), and FT3 concentration in sepsis plus T3 group (3.40 ± 1.65 pmol/L, P < 0.05) was corrected. Portal concentration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-D) in sepsis group (2.51 ± 0.56 mg/L) was higher than that in sham group (1.22 ± 0.21 mg/L) (P < 0.01), and in sepsis plus T3 group (1.68 ± 0.38 mg/L) it was decreased significantly (P < 0.01). TEM and light microscopy showed that T3 supplement preserved well ultrastructure and morphology of intetinal mucosa in septic rats.
CONCLUSION: Tri-iodothyronine supplement protects gut barrier in septic rats.