Table 4

Parameters of systemic NO and cytokine production in the control (n = 12, n = 11 at 24 hours of peritonitis) and AVP (n = 12) groups

Before peritonitis

12 hours peritonitis

18 hours peritonitis

24 hours peritonitis

Exhaled NO (pmol/kg/min)

Control

6 (3 to 47)

22 (6 to 72)^b

27 (11 to 98)^b

15 (14 to 141)^b

AVP

5 (4 to 9)

14 (7 to 17)^b

12 (9 to 16)^b

8 (6 to 10)^a

Arterial NO₃^-+NO₂^- (μmol/g_protein)

Control

0.5 (0.4 to 1.6)

1.5 (0.6 to 2.1)^b

1.8 (0.9 to 2.6)^b

1.8 (1.3 to 2.7)^b

AVP

1.0 (0.6 to 1.3)

1.4 (1.0 to 2.2)^b

1.3 (1.0 to 2.4)^b

1.2 (1.0 to 2.3)^b

Tumor necrosis factor-α (μmol/g_protein)

Control

3 (2 to 3)

10 (8 to 16)^b

20 (12 to 25)^b

27 (15 to 55)^b

AVP

2 (2 to 3)

8 (7 to 11)^b

14 (12 to 19)^b

18 (15 to 29)^b

Interleukin 6 (μmol/g_protein)

Control

1 (1 to 1)

125 (56 to 286)^b

549 (252 to 1624)^b

753 (559 to 3443)^b

AVP

1 (0 to 3)

83 (51 to 150)^b

216 (119 to 365)^{a, b}

354 (140 to 677)^{a, b}

All data are median (quartiles). ^a P < 0.05 between norepinephrine- and AVP-treated animals; ^b P < 0.05 within groups versus before peritonitis. AVP = arginine vasopressin; NO = nitric oxide.

Simon et al. Critical Care 2009 13:R113   doi:10.1186/cc7959