Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of the myocardial cellular structure and energy metabolism and to explore the effects of myocardial energy metabolic disorders on the development into the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) rats. METHODS: The SIRS rat model was created by injecting high dose endotoxin (20 mg/kg). The contents of ATP, ADP and AMP were measured with the method of HPLC in the myocardium of the SIRS A group rats (1 hour after injections of endotoxin), the SIRS B group rats (3 hours after injections of endotoxin) and the control group rats (no endotoxin was given). The pathological changes in all the SIRS rats were studied with the electron microscope. RESULTS: The contents of ATP, ADP and AMP in the SIRS A group rats [( 1.51 ± 0.39 )×10 -1 ,( 3.22 ± 0.59 )×10 -1 and ( 2.17 ± 0.56 )×10 -1 mmol/g] and the SIRS B group rats [( 1.31 ± 0.53 )×10 -1 ,( 2.75 ± 0.74 )×10 -1 and ( 1.88 ± 0.57 )×10 -1 mmol/g] were lower than those in the control group rats [( 2.57 ± 0.82 )×10 -1 ,( 5.75 ± 0.69 )×10 -1 and ( 5.35 ± 0.76 )×10 -1 mmol/g](P< 0.05 ). No significant difference in the ATP, ADP and AMP contents was found between the SIRS A group rats and SIRS B group rats. Under the electron microscope, the mitochondria in myocardium cells revealed structural disorders with vacuolar degeneration and edematous myocardial fibers in all the SIRS rats. CONCLUSIONS: Energy metabolism disorders and mitochondria dysfunctions of the myocardium may play an important role in the development of SIRS.
