Tri-iodothyronine supplement protects gut barrier in septic rats

Abstract

To investigate the role of tri-iodothyronine supplement in protecting gut barrier in septic rats. Twenty-two rats were randomized into three groups: sham group (n=6), sepsis group (n=8), and sepsis plus tri-iodothyronine (T(3)) group (n=8). Septic rat model was established through cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). After 5 h, sham and sepsis groups received saline, and the remaining group received T(3) intraperitoneally. Twenty-one hrs After CLP, intestinal permeability and serum free T(3) and T(4) were measured with fluorescence spectrophotometer and by radioimmunoassay, respectively. Intestinal ultrastructure and histologic morphology were observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and light microscopy, respectively. After 21 h, septic symptoms and signs in sepsis plus T(3) group were milder than those in sepsis group. Serum FT(3) or FT(4) concentration in sepsis group was lower than that in sham group (1.59+/-0.20, 3.41+/-2.14 pmol/L vs 3.44+/-1.40, 9.53+/-3.39 pmol/L, P<0.05), and FT(3) concentration in sepsis plus T(3) group (3.40+/-1.65 pmol/L, P<0.05) was corrected. Portal concentration of fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-D) in sepsis group (2.51+/-0.56 mg/L) was higher than that in sham group (1.22+/-0.21 mg/L) (P<0.01), and in sepsis plus T(3) group (1.68+/-0.38 mg/L) it was decreased significantly(P<0.01). TEM and light microscopy showed that T(3) supplement preserved well ultrastructure and morphology of intestinal mucosa in septic rats. Tri-iodothyronine supplement protects gut barrier in septic rats.