The Effects of Dexmedetomidine on Liver Injury in Rats with Experimental Sepsis: A Histopathological and Immunohistochemical Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In the rat sepsis model, the protective effect of dexmedetomidine (Dex) in sepsis-induced tissue injuries by reduc- ing inflammation is still unclear. Research is ongoing to determine whether Dex modulates sepsis-induced tissue injury. The aim of this experimental study was to investigate the effect of Dex on liver injury in sepsis rats histopathologically and immunohistochemically. METHODS: In this study, sepsis was induced in rats by a 10 ml/kg E. coli injection, and the protective efficacy of Dex against liver damage was investigated through histopathological and immunohistochemical findings by the intraperitoneal administration of 100 μg/ kg Dex. RESULTS: In our results, the most striking and basic morphological changes in the liver tissues of sepsis group rats were neutrophil leukocyte infiltrations in and around the vessels. In Dex-treated groups, neutrophil leukocyte infiltrations were more prominent, and marked dilatations were observed in the vessels. The fact that inflammatory reactions were more prominent in the Dex-treated groups was thought to be related to the increase in vascular permeability due to Dex's vasodilation effect. CONCLUSION: According to the histopathological and immunohistochemical findings obtained in the present study, we conclude that Dex did not alleviate sepsis-induced liver inflammation in a rat sepsis model.