Figure 10. Protocol for the animal study.

Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 rats per group. Rats received intraperitoneal injections of PBS (Group 1), S. aureus (6×10⁸ colony forming units (CFU); Group 2), 15 ml fibrinogen (10 mg/ml; Group 3), or both S. aureus and fibrinogen (Group 4). Group 5 animals received intraperitoneal injections of S. aureus and fibrinogen and also received daily intravenous injections of PTX (100 mg/kg) for 7 days. Animals were then subjected to the peritoneal equilibration test (PET) and sacrificed. The details of procedures are shown in the figure. ▾: Catheter placement in the internal jugular vein. ○: PBS intraperitoneally. •: 1 ml S. aureus (6×10⁸ CFU/ml) intraperitoneally. ◊: 15 ml PBS intraperitoneally. ⧫: 15 ml fibrinogen (10 mg/ml) intraperitoneally. ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪: 1.5 ml intravenous PBS daily for 7 days. ▪▪▪▪▪▪: 100 mg/kg intravenous pentoxifylline (20 mg/ml; approximately 1.5 ml) daily for 7 days. ×: Performed PET and then sacrificed.