Lethal versus surviving sepsis phenotypes displayed a partly differential regional expression of neurotransmitters and inflammation and did not modify the blood-brain barrier permeability in female CLP mice.

Background: Septic encephalopathy is frequent but its pathophysiology is enigmatic. We studied expression of neurotransmitters, inflammation and integrity of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in several brain regions during abdominal sepsis. We compared mice with either lethal or surviving phenotype in the first 4 sepsis days.

Why do they die? Comparison of selected aspects of organ injury and dysfunction in mice surviving and dying in acute abdominal sepsis.

Background: The mechanisms of sepsis mortality remain undefined. While there is some evidence of organ damage, it is not clear whether this damage alone is sufficient to cause death. Therefore, we aimed to examine contribution of organ injury/dysfunction to early deaths in the mouse abdominal sepsis.

Mouse model of posttraumatic abdominal sepsis: survival advantage of females over males does not depend on the cecum size.

Background: Regardless of whether alone or in combination, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) is the most commonly used model to emulate human polymicrobial sepsis. Numerous CLP studies have shown that female mice survive better than males. In adult mice, this effect may be partly due to the unequal cecum mass (larger in males), as cecum ligation is frequently not size standardized.

Estrus cycle status defined by vaginal cytology does not correspond to fluctuations of circulating estrogens in female mice.

Gender-oriented studies in shock, trauma, and/or sepsis require accurate monitoring of hormonal fluctuations as estrogens may influence various end points. Yet, monitoring is challenging in small laboratory animals: e.g.