[Changes in expressions of the myocardial Toll-like receptor 4, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 mRNA in rat with sepsis].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between apoptosis of myocardial cell in the rats with sepsis and the expressions of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA, and the protective effect of glutamine (Gln) against apoptosis of myocardial cell.

Methods: Rat model of sepsis was reproduced by peritoneal injection with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the animals were divided into control group, LPS group and Gln group. Rats in each group were further divided into four subgroups, 0, 6, 12 and 24 hours ( n =6).