Abstract: AIM: To investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine (Dex) on renal function and serum inflammatory factors in sepsis rats.  METHODS: Sixty male SD rats were divided into three groups: blank group, model group and DEX group (n=20). The blank group did not take any measures. The model group and DEX group were injected with lipopolysaccharide intravenously to construct sepsis rat model. Then the Dex group was injected with dextromethomidine injection for 7 μg·kg-1·h-1, and the dose was reduced to 5 μg·kg-1·h-1 after 15 minutes. The model group was continuously pumped for 30 minutes with equal volume of normal saline. At 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation, six rats in each group were taken from the abdominal vein blood. The serum creatine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured by colorimetry, and the serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) was measured by ELISA. The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β were measured. The rats were killed and the right kidney was taken, the pathological changes of renal tissue were observed by HE staining. RESULTS: At 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation, the levels of Scr and BUN in the model group and Dex group were higher than those in the blank group (P<0.05), while those in Dex group were lower than those in the model group (P<0.05). At 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation, there was no significant difference in the levels of Scr and BUN in the blank group (P>0.05), and the levels of Scr and BUN in the model group and Dex group increased in turn (P<0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the model group and Dex group were higher than those in the blank group (P<0.05) and lower than those in Dex group (P<0.05) at 12 h, 24 h and 48 h postoperatively. There was no significant difference in the levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the blank group (P>0.05). The levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the model group and DEX group increased in turn (P<0.05). At 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after operation, HE staining showed that there was no abnormal change of renal tissue in the blank group, and pathological changes were seen in the model group and DEX group, and gradually increased with the increase of time. Pathological changes in DEX group at all-time points were less than those in the model group. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine can protect renal function and inhibit the expression of serum inflammatory factors in sepsis rats.

Key words: dexmedetomidine, sepsis, rat, renal function, inflammatory factors