iNOS gene deficiency protects from sepsis induced cognitive long-term deficits

Septic encephalopathy (SE) is caused by systemic inflammation in the absence of direct brain infection. While the acute reactions to SE have been well defined, the long-term consequences of SE on cerebral metabolism, cognition, learning and memory capabilities remain to be elucidated. Using a murine model of sepsis, we demonstrate that a single injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a gramnegative bacterial cell wall component, results in long-term cognitive deficits. Two month after the initial challenge, LPS treated mice committed more working and reference memory errors than controls. These behavioural change…