1632: Drag-Reducing Polymers Mitigate Mortality and Encephalopathy in Rat Casp Sepsis

Introduction: Sepsis triggers microvascular failure, mortality, and neurocognitive sequelae. Drag-reducing polymers (DRP) enhance microcirculation. We tested whether DRP improve survival and neurobehavior after Colon Ascendens Stent Peritonitis (CASP) in rats. Methods: Male Wistar rats underwent CASP stratified as mild–moderate or moderate–severe. Animals received saline or DRPs (140 μg/kg i.v.). Survival was followed for 30 days. Mild–moderate cohorts underwent Open Field and Novel Object Recognition at 1 and 4 wks. Results: In moderate–severe CASP, the saline group showed 0% survival by Day 28, while DRP yielded 70% at Day 30. Mild–moderate CASP showed 100% survival in both. Saline-treated rats had increased anxiety, spending less time in center zones at wk 1 (12.3 ± 5.1 s vs. baseline 45.2 ± 3.8 s), while DRP-treated rats showed reduced anxiety at wk 1 (36.7 ± 5.5 s), nearing baseline by wk 4 (41.5 ± 4.2 s). Saline rats had impaired memory (discrimination index 0.18 ± 0.09 vs. 0.65 ± 0.11 baseline), whereas DRPs preserved memory at wk 1 (0.38 ± 0.09) with continued recovery by wk 4 (0.59 ± 0.05). Conclusions: DRP improved survival in severe CASP and mitigated anxiety and memory deficits after mild CASP, supporting DRP-mediated stabilization of microcirculation as a strategy to reduce sepsis mortality and encephalopathy.