Abstract
Purpose: To investigate brain neuronal density in newborn rats whose mothers were subjected to fecal peritonitis and compare findings between rats born to mothers treated and not treated with antimicrobials.
 Methods: Peritonitis was induced with a 10% fecal suspension (4mL/kg) in 2 pregnant rats. Of these, 1 received antimicrobial treatment 24 hours after peritonitis induction: moxifloxacin and dexamethasone plus 2 mL of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi extract. One pregnant rat underwent no intervention and served as a control.
 Results: The newborn brains of rats born to mothers with fecal peritonitis were significantly smaller and of less firm consistency. Brain neuronal density was lower in the untreated group than in the control and treated groups (P<0.01).
 Conclusions: Untreated peritonitis caused brain damage in the offspring, which was averted by effective early antimicrobial treatment. This approach may provide an early avenue for translation of such therapy in humans.
 Keywords: peritonitis, brain injuries, rats
Highlights
Sepsis and septic shock are serious clinical problems and remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit patients
*: Research performed at Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, Department of Surgery, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Campina Grande, Campina Grande, PB, Brazil
We have previously demonstrated morphological brain damage in newborn rats whose mothers were subjected to autogenous fecal peritonitis in early pregnancy, and this damage was ameliorated with effective antimicrobial therapy [Brandt, Melo, Gadelha, Gadelha, Oliveira, & Falcao, 2014]
Summary
Sepsis and septic shock are serious clinical problems and remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality in intensive care unit patients. No specific antiseptic treatment is currently available and patient care relies heavily on early recognition, allowing timely interventions-such as antibiotic administration, source control measures if necessary, and resuscitation with intravenous fluids and vasoactive agents [Cohen, Vincent, Adhikari, Machado, Angus, Calandra, Jaton, Giulieri, Delaloye, Opal, Tracey, van der Poll, & Pelfrene, 2015]. A number of mechanisms have been proposed, including nonself recognition, immunomodulation of specific inflammatory cell populations, and a Th2-directed immune response, which are mediated by both localized and systemic reactions. An inflammatory response toward the conceptus is no longer regarded as an obligatory deleterious response. Instead, it is considered an important factor required for normal growth and development [Adar, Grisaru-Granovsky, Ben Ya'acov, Goldin, & Bar-Gil Shitrit, 2015]
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