Effect of post-natal castration on sepsis mortality in rats

Joel Antonio Bernhardt,Ricardo Tramonte,Armando José D' Acampora,João Daniel May Serafim

doi:10.1590/s0102-86502007000100004

Abstract

To investigate the influence of castration in early periods of development on survival to experimental acute sepsis. Four groups of 10 (ten) Wistar rats were used. The groups were comprised of males (M), females (F), males castrated on the fourth day of life (CM) and males castrated on the fourth day of life with testosterone replacement (CMR). Sepsis was induced by ligature and cecal perforation in adult life. The analysis of death within 24 hours following sepsis induction showed greater mortality between the M and the CMR groups as compared to the CM and F (p=0.0180) groups. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) indicates an association between the M and the CMR groups for death within 24 hours as well as a relationship between the F and the CM groups for the absence of death and death up to 24 hours following sepsis induction. Statistical analysis of the Kaplan-Meier survival curve through log-rank demonstrates a significant difference among the four groups (p=0.0055) and between the M and the F (p=0.0005) groups. Data suggest a better survival to sepsis within 24 hours for the F and CM groups, the presence or absence of testosterone in early periods of post-natal life being responsible for these findings.

Highlights

Sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome are common causes of death in ICUs 1, 2, and their morbilethality have not diminished in recent years
Data suggest a better survival to sepsis within 24 hours for the F and CM groups, the presence or absence of testosterone in early periods of post-natal life being responsible for these findings
The concept that cellular or humoral immune response is more accentuated in female than in male stems from higher immune response following immunization and infection, higher titer of immunoglobulin with higher incidence of autoimmune disease[5,6,7]

Summary

Introduction

Sepsis and the systemic inflammatory response syndrome are common causes of death in ICUs 1, 2, and their morbilethality have not diminished in recent years. Studies in this area were initiated with Stumpf et al[11] with the introduction of location methods that pinpoint brain cells which uptake and concentrate sexual steroids. The author of these studies determined the brain areas which concentrated a higher amount of estrogens. He concluded that these areas were the anatomical substrate to justify the organization and activation of different sexual behavior, as well as hormonal influence in regard to maternity, aggressiveness, feeding and modulation of several other functions including temperature control and memory. Besedovsky[14] demonstrated for the first time the existence of a communication between the activated immune

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Conclusion