EFFICACY OF SYMBIOTICS IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF ENDOTOXIC SHOCK INDUCED BY LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE FROM ESCHERICHIA COLI

Obsevation: Endotoxic shock is a life-threatening condition and its sequelae represent an array of clinical symptoms that encompass systemic inflammation, coagulopathy, and abnormalities of the renal, hepatic, pulmonary and hematologic systems, followed by multi-organ failure. Furthermore, systemic failure leads to an unfavorable environment in the gut that causes an imbalance in the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota. In the present study, the effect of symbiotics as adjuvant therapy in endotoxic shock was investigated. Adult male Wistar rats were randomized into three groups: Control group received a single intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline solution, and the other two groups received either a symbiotic formulation or a placebo daily, for one week, followed by the administration of a single lethal dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli (20 mg/Kg, IP). Results: The symbiotic formulation used improved the survival rate of LPS-treated rats, ameliorated the clinical symptomatology, reduced the production of serum proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), and preserved the mitochondrial membrane fluidity and ATPase activity. Conclusion: The symbiotic formulation used as a pre-treatment in this experimental model, reduced mortality and showed beneficial effects at the systemic and sub-cellular levels.