The Role of the Vagus Nerve: Modulation of the Inflammatory Reaction in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis
Figure 4
(a) To verify the therapeutic dose of nicotine in the murine serum, we analysed the serum cotinine level as this correlates with the amount of nicotine dose applicated by osmotic pumps. Application of nicotine in a dose of 1.5 mg/kgBW/h results in a serum cotinine level of 9.24 μg/l (). 4.5 mg/kgBW/h nicotine leads to a cotinine serum concentration of 45 μg/l () and 40 mg/kgBW/h nicotine induces a cotinine serum concentration of 106 μg/l (). Serum samples were analysed 18 hours following CASP. (b) The survival in CASP is not altered by continuous nicotine administration through subcutaneously implanted osmotic pumps. A nicotine exposition of 1 mg/kg bw per hour correlates with a survival rate of 20% (), 1.5 mg/kgBW/h () nicotine leads to a survival rate of 21.85% and 3 mg/kgBW/h nicotine correlates with a survival rate of 12,5% (). In the control group, NaCl was applied where the survival rate was detected with 9.76% ().
