Effects of acute treatment with amphetamine in locomotor activity in sepsis survivor rats.

We here evaluated the central dopaminergic response in sepsis survivor rats using the administration of D-amphetamine. Male Wistar rats underwent cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) or were sham-operated. After 10 days of recovery, rats received an intraperitoneal injection of D-amphetamine 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg or saline, and were subjected to the open field test. We did not observe alterations in locomotor and exploratory activities in CLP compared to sham group. Treatment with amphetamine 0.5 mg/kg did not have effect in sham and CLP groups; D-amphetamine 1 mg/kg increased locomotor and exploratory activities only in sham group, and D-amphetamine 2 mg/kg increased in both sham and CLP groups. We suggest that, in part, dopamine pathway may be altered in sepsis.