Effect of Shenfu injection on intestinal mucosal barrier in a rat model of sepsis.

Purpose: The effects of Shenfu injection on protecting the intestinal mucosal barrier were investigated in rats with sepsis.

Methods: Severe sepsis was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in 30 healthy Sprague-Dawley rats. Twelve rats that received sham surgery received 10 mL/kg of normal saline. Rats with CLP were randomized to receive 10 mL/kg of normal saline (n = 12) and 5 mL/kg Shenfu (n = 12), and 10 received 10 mL/kg Shenfu injection (n = 12) by tail intravenous injection. Rats were killed after 8 hours. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-10, and ileal malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase activity were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Ileum tissue structures and pathological score were observed by microscopy. Ileal mucosal epithelial cell apoptosis index was calculated by TUNEL assay. Ileal proapoptotic protein Bax, antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, and tight junction transmembrane protein occludin were measured by immunohistochemistry and immunoblot.

Results: The level of tumor necrosis factor α, the ileal malondialdehyde level, ileum pathological score, apoptosis index of ileal mucosal epithelial cells, and Bax protein level were significantly higher, and serum level of interleukin-10, the ileal superoxide dismutase activity, Bcl-2 protein level, Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and occludin protein level were significantly lower in the CLP group than in the sham group (P < .01 or P < .05). Both low- and high-dose Shenfu significantly ameliorated these changes (P < .01 or P < .05), but high-dose injection achieved more significant improvements than did the low-dose injection (P < .01 or P < .05).

Conclusions: Shenfu injection might ameliorate the mucosal barrier function in a model of sepsis in rats in a dose-dependent manner.