THE EFFECTS OF PROSTAGLANDIN E-2 INDOMETHACIN AND GINKGO-BILOBA EXTRACT ON RESISTANCE TO EXPERIMENTAL SEPSIS

We investigated the effect of 16,16-dimethyl prostaglandin E-2 indomet hacin and Ginkgo biloba extract on the survival in two experimental se psis models in rats due to administration of 1 x 10(7) cfn and 1 x 10( 9) cfu Escherichia coli. Animals in each model were then randomly divi ded (10/group) into four groups, administered saline, indomethacin, G. biloba extract and prostaglandin E-2 respectively. When compared, the re was no significant difference in the survival period between the tw o sepsis models (P>0.05). The best survival rate was observed in the P GE(2)-administered animals in the first major model(P<0.05). Indometha cin appeared not to decrease the mortality rates. There was no signifi cant difference in PGE(2) levels between two sepsis models (P>0.05). O ur results suggest that elevated prostaglandin E-2 levels following ma jor trauma are not responsible for the postinjury increased susceptibi lity to infectious complications. Our observations should also discour age aggressive use of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors for protection agains t infectious complications after major trauma.