Early administration of milrinone ameliorates lung and kidney injury during sepsis in juvenile rats.

Background A sepsis model was created, induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in junevile rat groups. Milrinone, which is known to have a modulatory effect on proinflammatory cytokines, was administered to the designated groups in the early period before severe sepsis developed. It was aimed to investigate the possible protective effects of milrinone on the lung and kidney tissues of rats in the late phase of sepsis. Methods Seven groups; with six animals in each group: healthy, CLP-S12 (sacrificed at hour 12), CLP-S24 (sacrificed at hour 24), CLP-MIL1-S12 (administered with 0.5 mg/kg milrinone at hour 1 and sacrificed at hour 12), CLP-MIL1-S24 (administered with 0.5 mg/kg milrinone at hour 1 and sacrificed at hour 24), CLP-MIL12-S24 (administered with 0.5 mg/kg milrinone at hour 12 and sacrificed at hour 24), and CLP-MIL1,12-S24 (administered with 0.5 mg/kg milrinone at hours 1 and 12 and sacrificed at hour 24). Results Significant differences were found between the early and late administration of milrinone in terms of both molecular and histopathological results. The results showed that the tissues were significantly preserved in the groups in which milrinone had been started in the early period compared to the sepsis control groups and the groups in which milrinone had been started in the late period. Conclusions In addition to positive inotropic effects of the milrinone, its immunomodulatory properties that result in decreased cytokine storm can be beneficial during early period of sepsis.