Cardioprotection, attenuated systemic inflammation, and survival benefit of beta(1)-adrenoceptor blockade in severe sepsis in rats

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore the hypothesis that beta-1 adrenoreceptor blockade may be protective through the attenuation of sympathetic hyperactivity and catecholaminergic inflammatory effects on cardiac and hepatic function. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled study. SETTING: Animal laboratory in a university medical center. SUBJECTS: Male adult Wistar rats. INTERVENTIONS: Peripheral beta1-adrenoceptor blockade through daily intraperitoneal injection (metoprolol, 100 mg x kg(-1); atenolol, 6 mg x kg(-1)) or central nervous system beta1-adrenoceptor blockade (intracerebroventricular metoprolol, 25 microg) to achieve approximately 20% heart rate reduction in rats for 2 days before or after ..