Correlation of Neutrophil and Procalcitonin Levels with Multiorgan Damage Scores in an Escherichia coli-Induced Male Rat Sepsis Model

Authors

  • Nor Hilyati Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Muhammad Adnan Medical Study Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Iin Novita Nurhidayati Mahmuda Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta, Surakarta, Indonesia
  • Roro Flaviana Bayu Astiyani Department of Internal Medicine, Psychiatric Hospital Surakarta, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
  • Olivia Bunga Putri Internal Medicine Residency Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia
  • Denny Bimatama Pradita Internal Medicine Residency Program, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sebelas Maret, Surakarta, Central Java, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.26630/jk.v17i2.5802

Keywords:

Experimental rat model, Histopathological injury, Inflammatory biomarker, Organ dysfunction, Systemic inflammatory response

Abstract

infection, which may lead to multiple-organ damage. Neutrophils and procalcitonin (PCT) are inflammatory biomarkers known to increase during sepsis and are suspected to be associated with the severity of organ injury. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between neutrophil and procalcitonin levels and multiple-organ tissue damage scores in a male rat sepsis model induced by intraperitoneal administration of Escherichia coli. This was a true experimental laboratory study using a post-test-only control group design involving nine male Rattus norvegicus rats divided into a control group, an E. coli-induced group receiving 1 × 10⁶ CFU/kg body weight, and an E. coli-induced group receiving 1.5 × 10⁶ CFU/kg body weight. Neutrophil levels were measured using a hematology analyzer, while PCT levels were determined using an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Multiple-organ damage was assessed through histopathological examination of the liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and lungs. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation test. The results showed that neutrophil levels were significantly and positively correlated with damage scores of the liver (rs = 0.88; p = 0.002), spleen (rs = 0.90; p < 0.001), heart (rs = 0.92; p < 0.001), and lungs (rs = 0.91; p < 0.001). Procalcitonin levels were also significantly and positively correlated with damage scores of the liver (rs = 0.90; p < 0.001), spleen (rs = 0.87; p = 0.002), heart (rs = 0.85; p = 0.004), and lungs (rs = 0.88; p = 0.002). In conclusion, higher neutrophil and procalcitonin levels were associated with greater multiple-organ tissue damage in a male rat sepsis model induced by Escherichia coli.

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Published

28-08-2026