Fig. 5.

Inflammatory response to CLP length evaluated by serum cytokines. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations were measured for all the groups at 6 h (n = 10 for sham-operated and each length of the ligated cecum) and 24 h (n = 10 for the sham-operated, 5 %, and 20 %; n = 4 for the 100 % ligated group). At 24 h after procedure, only 40 % of the animals in the 100 % group were alive. We expressed serum TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 concentrations as fold increases relative to time-matched sham laparotomy (a–c). a Serum TNF-α concentrations. We did not observe any difference between the ligated groups at H6 or H24, but a decrease in time. b Serum IL-1β concentrations. We observed a decrease in time, but no difference between the ligated groups at the same time. c Serum IL-6 concentrations. Besides decrease in time, we observed significant higher levels of serum IL-6 at H6 in the 100 % compared to the 5 % and 20 % ligated groups. d Serum IL-6/IL-10 ratio. The longer the ligated cecum was, the more the imbalance was significantly in favor of pro-inflammatory response. Results are reported as median ± IQR; *p < 0.05