Evidence of bone marrow downregulation in brain‐dead rats

Abstract

Experimental findings support the evidence of a persistent leucopenia triggered by brain death (BD). This study aimed to investigate leucocyte behaviour in bone marrow and blood after BD in rats. BD was induced using intracranial balloon catheter inflation. Sham-operated (SH) rats were trepanned only. Thereafter bone marrow cells were harvested every six hours from the femoral cavity and used for total and differential counts. They were analysed further by flow cytometry to characterize lymphocyte subsets, granulocyte adhesion molecules expression and apoptosis/necrosis [annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) protocol]. BD rats exhibited a reduction in bone marrow cells due to a reduction in lymphocytes (40%) and segmented cells (45%). Bone marrow lymphocyte subsets were similar in BD and SH rats (CD3, P = 0.1; CD4, P = 0.4; CD3/CD4, P = 0.4; CD5, P = 0.4, CD3/CD5, P = 0.2; CD8, P = 0.8). Expression of L-selectin and beta -integrins on granulocytes did not differ (CD11a, P = 0.9; CD11b/c, P = 0.7; CD62L, P = 0.1). There were no differences in the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis (Annexin V, P = 0.73; PI, P = 0.21; Annexin V/PI, P = 0.29). In conclusion, data presented suggest that the downregulation of the bone marrow is triggered by brain death itself, and it is not related to changes in lymphocyte subsets, granulocyte adhesion molecules expression or apoptosis and necrosis.

Anti-inflammatory effect of thalidomide in an experimental lung donor model of brain death

“…These results are consistent with those in several articles that describe arterial hypotension during BD, which occurs due to autonomic discharge followed by intense vasodilation. Studies have shown that after 1 h of BD, the blood pressure levels were comparable to those of SHAM animals (control) 14 – 17 .…”

Estudo dos efeitos do 17Îbeta-estradiol sobre a microcirculação em modelo de morte encefálica em ratos machos

“…Considerando que a inflamação sistêmica deflagrada pela morte encefálica em ratos machos está associada, de modo paradoxal, à leucopenia persistente (Simas et al, 2012a) e que a redução da atividade da medula óssea não está relacionada a alterações na expressão de moléculas de adesão granulocíticas (Menegat et al, 2017), sugere-se que a inflamação sistêmica e progressiva observada em doadores em morte encefálica depende, essencialmente, da ativação da célula endotelial.…”