Protective Effect Of Metoprolol On The Myocardial Damage In Rats With Sepsis

Objective To investigate the role and mechanisms of metoprolol on the myocardial damage in rats with sepsis and to provide the theory for the treatment of sepsis.Methods 72 rats were randomly divided into control group(n=24), sepsis group (Cecal ligation and puncture was performed to induce sepsis, n=24) and treatment group (0.2mg/kg/h, n=24).The serum TNF-а, the cardiomyocytes activity of MPO and caspase-3, cardiomyocytes apoptosis index, myocardial pathomorphology by optical microscope were assessed at 3, 6, 12, 24 h after operation.Results The serum TNF-а, the activity of MPO and caspase-3, the cardiomyocytes apoptosis index increased significantly in the sepsis group and treatment group as compared with the control group (P<0.05). After using metoprolol, the serum TNF-аand the activity of MPO at 12 and 24 h, the activity of caspase-3 and the cardiomyocytes apoptosis index at 6, 12 and 24 h decreased significantly as compared with the sepsis group (P<0.05), meanwhile myocardial pathomorphology damage by electronic microscope was alleviated in treatment groups.Conclusions Metoprolol can protect myocardial function in rats with sepsis. The decrease in cytokine, myocardial inflammatory reaction and the activity of caspase-3 are probably the mechanism.