METHODS: Endotoxemic shock was induced in sheep by administration of an escalating dose of lipopolysaccharide, after which they subsequently received either no fluid bolus resuscitation or a 0.9% saline bolus. Lung tissue, bronchoalveolar fluid (BAL) and plasma were analysed by real-time PCR, ELISA, flow cytometry and immunohistochemical staining to assess inflammatory cells, cytokines, hyaluronan and matrix metalloproteinases.
RESULTS: Endotoxemia was associated with decreased serum albumin and total protein levels, with activated neutrophils, while the glycocalyx glycosaminoglycan hyaluronan was significantly increased in BAL. Quantitative real-time PCR studies showed higher expression of IL-6 and IL-8 with saline resuscitation but no difference in matrix metalloproteinase expression. BAL and tissue homogenate levels of IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1β were elevated.
CONCLUSIONS: This data shows that the inflammatory response is enhanced when a host with endotoxemia is resuscitated with saline, with a comparatively higher release of inflammatory cytokines and endothelial/glycocalyx damage, but no change in matrix metalloproteinase levels.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-one adult female sheep were randomly divided into no endotoxemia (n = 5) or endotoxemia groups (n = 16) with an escalating dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) up to 4 μg/kg/h administered to achieve a mean arterial pressure below 60 mmHg. Endotoxemia sheep received either no bolus fluid resuscitation (n = 8) or a 0.9% saline bolus (40 mL/kg over 60 min) (n = 8). No endotoxemia, saline only animals (n = 5) underwent fluid resuscitation with a 0.9% bolus of saline as detailed above. Hemodynamic support with vasopressors was initiated if needed, to maintain a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 60-65 mm Hg in all the groups.
RESULTS: Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) and conventional coagulation biomarker tests demonstrated sepsis induced derangements to secondary haemostasis. This effect was exacerbated by saline fluid resuscitation, with low pH (p = 0.036), delayed clot initiation and formation together with deficiencies in naturally occurring anti-coagulants antithrombin (p = 0.027) and Protein C (p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: Endotoxemia impairs secondary haemostasis and induces changes in the intrinsic, extrinsic and anti-coagulant pathways. These changes to haemostasis are exacerbated following resuscitation with 0.9% saline, a commonly used crystalloid in clinical settings.
METHODS: Twenty-four Dorper lambs (18.68±0.6 kg, 4 to 5 months old) were randomly assigned to a concentrate mixture containing either, no supplement (control, T1), 1% Rosmarinus officinalis leaves (T2), 1% Nigella sativa seeds (T3), or 1% Rosmarinus officinalis leaves+1% Nigella sativa seeds (T4) on a dry matter basis. The lambs were fed the treatments with urea-treated rice straw for 90 days, slaughtered and the muscles were subjected to a 7 d postmortem chill storage.
RESULTS: The T2 lambs had greater (p<0.05) slaughter and cold carcass weights than the control lambs. Dietary supplements did not affect (p>0.05) chill loss, dressing percentage, carcass composition, intramuscular fat and muscle pH in Dorper lambs. Meat from supplemented lambs had lower (p<0.05) cooking and drip losses, shear force, lightness, and lipid oxidation and greater (p<0.05) redness compared with the control meat. The impact of dietary supplements on muscle FA varied with muscle type. Diet had no effect (p>0.05) on the expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase and lipoprotein lipase genes in LD and ST muscles in Dorper lambs. The T2 and T3 diets up regulated the expression of AMP-activated protein kinase alpha 2 gene in LD and ST muscles and up regulated the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 in ST muscle in Dorper lambs.
CONCLUSION: Dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa seeds and Rosmarinus officinalis leaves had beneficial effects on meat quality in Dorper lambs.