Muramyl dipeptide enhances survival from experimental peritonitis.

Muramyl dipeptide is a nonspecific immunostimulant derived from Freund's complete adjuvant. We determined the effect of muramyl dipeptide on two separate animal models for peritonitis. We found that administration of muramyl dipeptide to rats undergoing cecal ligation and puncture significantly reduced mortality. Similarly, mice that underwent cecal ligation alone with muramyl dipeptide administration also had a statistically significant reduction in mortality compared with untreated controls.