To evaluate the effect of dexamethasone on oxidative stress and inflammatory factor release in postpartum hemorrhage and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome rats.

Twenty-seven postpartum Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, which were model group, dexamethasone group and control group. Each group included 9 rats. The rats in control group only received vein indwelling needle in femoral artery and femoral vein after general anesthesia. The rats in model group exposed to hypotension for 60 minutes and superior mesenteric artery being clamped for 40 minutes after all the procedure in control group. While the rats in dexamethasone group received dexamethasone (0.5 mg/100 g) before the procedure in the model group. All the rats were euthanized after 24 hours at the end of experiment. The right lung and small intestine were stored at minus 80 degrees centigrade. Malondialdehyde(MDA), nitric oxide(NO), superoxide dismutase(SOD), glutathione(GSH), catalase(CAT), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and interleukin-6(IL-6) were assayed. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and further analysis was using LSD test.

Oxidative stress markers MDA(813.34±84.39 and 342.06±39.42), NO (288.22±25.35 and 834.10±56.37) levels increased in model group compared with control group rats(366.84±76.59 and 171.68±29.97, 133.09±24.86 and 331.53±24.97), all P<0.05. The levels of oxidative stress markers SOD (158.50±31.02 and 227.75±41.87), GSH (155.25±25.70 and 283.83±63.57) and CAT(343.75±81.40 and 245.33±40.04) in model group were significant decreased compared with control group rats(233.83±23.37 and 407.35±55.63, 268.20±28.35 and 485.71±85.10, 473.67±80.04 and 494.69±40.25), all P<0.05. The levels of oxidative stress markers MDA (526.35±56.94 and 261.78±56.01), NO(192.16±36.37 and 594.97±59.42) in dexamethasone group were lower than those in model group(813.34±84.39 and 342.06±39.42, 288.22±25.35 and 834.10±56.37), all P<0.05. The levels of oxidative stress markers SOD (201.35±21.29 and 344.10±54.80), GSH (233.05±32.72 and 436.72±65.49) and CAT (406.96±45.40 and 370.36±63.56) in dexamethasone group were higher than model group (158.50±31.02 and 227.75±41.87, 155.25±25.70 and 283.83±63.57, 343.75±81.40 and 245.33±40.04), all P<0.05. Inflammatory factor TNF-α (853.80±154.17 and 418.42±76.22), IL-6 (1673.16±183.98 and 765.83±74.05) increased in model group compared with control group rats (318.16±66.95 and 215.89±47.78, 1138.01±125.50 and 149.55±35.54), all P<0.05. Inflammatory factor TNF-α (652.45±121.36 and 290.58±35.54), IL-6(1373.24±114.87 and 523.91±68.81) in dexamethasone group were lower than those in model group(853.80±154.17 and 418.42±76.22, 1673.16±183.98 and 765.83±74.05), all P<0.05.

Dexamethasone may decrease oxidative stress injury and inhibit inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-6 release in the postpartum hemorrhage and multiple organs dysfunction syndrome rats.