Fig. 6

Spleen weights, glutathione status, histomorphology and iNOS expression in the spleen. At the time point indicated, mice were sacrificed and the spleens were collected for further analysis. (a) Spleen weights. (b, c) Total glutathione content and GSH/GSSG ratio in the spleen tissue. Data are given as mean ± standard deviation (SD), n = 4–6 for each group and time point. Statistical significance was determined by using the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test, followed by pairwise Mann-Whitney U tests. Statistical comparisons were made versus the control of each group and are denoted as follows: LPS (asterisk, *), PCI (plus, +), CLP (diamond, #). A p value <0.05 (*,+,#) was considered statistically significant; a p value <0.01 (**,++,##) and a p value <0.001 (***,+++,###) are further specified. (d) HE staining showing a large amount of erythrocytes in the red pulp of endotoxic mice after 4 h and a less pronounced effect after CLP. (e) iNOS expression in the spleens, 24 h after LPS and CLP treatment (immunohistochemistry [red-brown color], counterstaining with hematoxylin). Representative photomicrographs from one of 4–6 different tissue samples each are shown (original magnification: 400×)