Ghrelin: Impact on Muscle Energy Metabolism in Sepsis

Abstract

We investigated the effects of exogenous ghrelin on energy levels and tissue histology in skeletal muscle in experimentally lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced septic rats. Male Wistar albino rats 200–250 g were separated into four groups; Control, LPS (5 mg/kg), Ghrelin (10 nmol/kg i.v.), and ghrelin+LPS. Gastrocnemius muscle tissue was taken and stained using modified Gomori trichrome (MGT), succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), and cytochrome oxidase (COX) and hematoxylin and eosin. In stained sections, histological score value was calculated according to the intensity and the distribution for MGT, SDH and COX stainings. Creatine, creatine phosphate, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine monophosphate (AMP) levels, and the ratios of AMP/ATP and CreaP/ATP were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in muscle tissue. Significances between experimental groups were calculated with an analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s tests. Myopathic changes were seen in the 50% of rats in the LPS group as rounding of muscle fibers and fiber size variation. In the ghrelin+LPS group, ghrelin treatment was reduced damage in skeletal muscle structure. There was no change in creatine or AMP levels between the groups. Ghrelin treatment significantly increased ATP values (P < 0.01) and improved tissue histology in septic rats. Ratios of both AMP/ATP and CreaP/ATP were found increased in the septic group, but there were decreaments in both the ghrelin and ghrelin-treated septic groups. Ghrelin could play an important role in energy balance and muscle morphology in skeletal muscle during sepsis.