The Effects of Dexmedetomidine in a Rat Model of Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury are Mediated Through the Adenosine Monophosphate-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK)/Silent Information Regulator 1 (SIRT1) Pathway

Figures

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  Figure 1. Rat survival rates in the three study groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group. (A) The survival rate of rats in each group, and (B) changes in body temperature. The survival rate of rats in the model group is significantly lower than that in the sham group and dexmedetomidine group, and the body temperature in the model group is significantly higher than that in the sham group and the dexmedetomidine group. ** P<0.01 compared with the model group, ## P<0.01 compared with the sham group.

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  Figure 2. Histological analysis of the rat lung tissues in the three study groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group. (A) Lung injury was detected histologically. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E). (Scale bar=50 μm). (B) Semiquantitative analysis of lung injury using histological scores. ** P<0.01 compared with the model group, ## P<0.01 compared with the sham group.

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  Figure 3. (A, B) Cell apoptosis in the rat lung tissues in the three study groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group, detected by TUNEL staining (A). Cell apoptosis levels in lung tissues in the model group are significantly higher than that in the sham group and the dexmedetomidine-treated group (B). ** P<0.01 compared with the model group, ## P<0.01 compared with the sham group.

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  Figure 4. (A–C) The levels of inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues in the three study groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (A) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) (B) in lung rat tissues is significantly higher in the model group compared with the sham group and the dexmedetomidine-treated group. ** P<0.01 compared with the model group, ## P<0.01 compared with the sham group.

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  Figure 5. Expression levels of apoptosis-associated proteins in lung tissues in the three study groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group determined by Western blot. (A) In the model group, the expression of caspase-3 (B) in the lung tissues is significantly higher than that in the sham group and the dexmedetomidine-treated group, while Bcl-2/Bax (C) are significantly lower compared with the sham group and the dexmedetomidine-treated group. ** P<0.01 compared with the model group, ## P<0.01 compared with the sham group.

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  Figure 6. The expression of AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway-associated proteins in lung tissues in the three study groups, the sham group, the model group, and the dexmedetomidine-treated group determined by Western blot (A). The expression levels of p-AMPK (B), p-SIRT1 (C), p-NF-κB-P65 (D), and p-FoxO3a (E) in lung tissues in the model group are significantly lower compared with the sham group and the dexmedetomidine-treated group. ** P<0.01 compared with the model group, ## P<0.01 compared with the sham group.