Biological trace element research
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Biol Trace Elem Res · Dec 2009
The effect of β-glucan on trace element levels in intra-abdominal sepsis in rats.
Sepsis is associated with the development of progressive damage in multiple organ systems. The beneficial effect of glucans has been attributed to modulation of immune function and enhances defense against bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the putative protective effect of ß-glucan on changes of trace element levels in various tissues after experimental sepsis in rats. ⋯ The results demonstrate that sepsis significantly decreased zinc and copper levels of all tissues. The decrease in tissue zinc and copper levels demonstrates the role of trace elements in sepsis-induced tissue damage. Our results indicated that ß-glucan administration did not return the zinc and copper levels to the control group level, and it seems likely that the given dose of ß-glucan was insufficient to prevent sepsis-induced organ injury.