Figure 4.

Representative flow cytometry traces to show measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential in the three experimental groups (sham, CLP and CLP+EP). 24S: Measurements made 24 hours after surgery in the sham group show a peak in the 10¹ region (broken arrow), representing cells without mitochondrial depolarization, and a second peak in the 10²-10³ region (solid arrow), indicating mitochondrial depolarization. 24C: 24 hours after surgery, the CLP group showed a higher peak in the 10²-10³ region (solid arrow) and a lower peak in the 10¹ region (broken arrow), compared with the sham group, reflecting an increase in mitochondrial depolarization. 24E: The CLP+EP group showed a reduced peak in the 10²-10³ region (solid arrow) and a corresponding enhanced peak in the 10¹ region (broken arrow), compared with the CLP group, such that the trace resembled that for the sham group. This is consistent with EP reducing mitochondrial injury and depolarization following CLP-induced sepsis.