Effects of sepsis-induced acute lung injury on glycogen content in different tissues.

Abstract

The metabolic profile is very affected in sepsis, which is the most important cause of extrapulmonary acute lung injury (ALI-EX). The aim of the present study was to investigate whether sepsis-induced ALI-EX in mice affects the glycogen content in different tissues. This measurement could indicate performance limitations of tissues and constitute a novel biochemical aspect of ALI. ALI was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP), which is a model that reproduces clinical and pathological alterations stemming from sepsis. Control group mice were sham-operated. Glycogen content (mg/g tissue) from different tissues was measured using the anthrone reagent. Glycogen content in the diaphragm (0.3 +/- 0.1) and gastrocnemius muscle (0.4 +/- 0.1) was lower in the sepsis group than the control group (0.9 +/- 0.1 and 1.1 +/- 0.2, respectively). However, there were no significant differences in glycogen content in the heart and kidney. Sepsis caused a greater thickening of the alveolar walls, more areas of atelectasis, and a greater abundance of inflammatory cells in comparison to the control group. These results demonstrate that glycogen content in sepsis-induced ALI-EX is altered in different tissues.