Sepsis Models in Experimental Animals

Sepsis develops as a common inflammatory response to various infections. It runs with the picture of a complex heterogeneous syndrome which often leads to the development of multiple organ dysfunctions and causes the death of millions of people worldwide. For various reasons, detailed research of sepsis in humans is difficult to conduct; therefore, a lot of efforts have been made to model it. PURPOSE: The aim of this paper is to present the most widely used experimental sepsis models developed with a view to explane the pathogenetic mechanisms of the disease, and it’s clinical and paraclinical characteristics, as well as opportunities for its therapeutic management. METHOD: This review is based on a detailed survey of the available literature. RESULTS: The cited models differ by the type of laboratory animals, pathogens used, and the method of their introduction in the organism. Models can be defined as “non-surgical” (with parenteral introduction of endotoxins or pathogenic bacteria), and “surgical” – referring to preceding operative intervention which is aimed at inducing peritonitis such as ligation and subsequent puncture of the cecum, insertion of a stent in the wall of the ascending colon, implantation of bacterial cultures or of pathogens included in the composition of different carriers. Advantages and disadvantages of the reviewed models are considered, as well as the extent of resemblance to clinical sepsis in its various forms. CONCLUSION: The fact is that not one of the created models is capable of reproducing entirely the complex polymorphic and dynamic picture of sepsis. Nevertheless, anyone of them can provide reliable information on separate components of the