Table 2 Effects of sham vagotomy or vagotomy on serum levels of TNF-α, IL-6, as well as myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities in the intestine, lungs and kidneys in sham operated animals (Sham) and septic animals treated with normal saline (Vehicle) or ghrelin (Ghrelin) at 20 h after radiation combined injury (RCI).

TNF-α (pg/mL)

Sham vagotomy

46 ± 9.0^a

83 ± 5.6^b

53 ± 4.2^bc

Vagotomy

51 ± 6.7

83 ± 4.4^b

78 ± 4.5^b

IL-6 (pg/mL)

Sham vagotomy

41 ± 1.9

1507 ± 120.1^b

670 ± 64.0^bc

Vagotomy

37 ± 4.2

1335 ± 85.3^b

1417 ± 109.6^b

Intestinal MPO (µU/mg)

Sham vagotomy

1.2 ± 0.08

28.1 ± 3.27^b

14.6 ± 1.08^bc

Vagotomy

1.2 ± 0.13

29.9 ± 2.90^b

31.0 ± 1.96^b

Pulmonary MPO (µU/mg)

Sham vagotomy

1.0 ± 0.14

23.3 ± 2.03^b

15.1 ± 1.34^bc

Vagotomy

1.3 ± 0.14

24.9 ± 2.49^b

23.9 ± 2.41^b

Renal MPO (µU/mg)

Sham vagotomy

1.8 ± 0.21

11.4 ± 0.86^b

5.5 ± 0.58^bc

Vagotomy

1.6 ± 0.27

10.3 ± 0.95^b

11.5 ± 1.39^b