Sepsis is associated with the development of progressive damage in multiple organ systems. The beneficial effect of
glucans has been attributed to modulation of immune function and enhances defense against bacterial, viral, fungal, and
parasitic infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the putative protective effect of ß-
glucan on changes of
trace element levels in various tissues after experimental
sepsis in rats.
Sepsis was induced by cecal
ligation and perforation (CLP) in 28 male Wistar albino rats. To evaluate this, rats were divided into four groups as
sham operated, ß-
glucan treated
sham operated, CLP, and ß-
glucan treated CLP. Sixteen hours after operation, rats were decapitated and
zinc (Zn) and
copper (Cu) levels were determined in the liver, kidney, heart, diaphragm, and lung tissues. The results demonstrate that
sepsis significantly decreased
zinc and
copper levels of all tissues. The decrease in tissue
zinc and
copper levels demonstrates the role of
trace elements in
sepsis-induced tissue damage. Our results indicated that ß-
glucan administration did not return the
zinc and
copper levels to the control group level, and it seems likely that the given dose of ß-
glucan was insufficient to prevent
sepsis-induced organ injury.