Figure 2

Cytokine concentrations in plasma samples 4.5 hours after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration for all LPS groups and the control (SHAM, white bar) group. (A) TNF-α, (B) IFN-γ, (C) IL-6, and (D) IL-10 levels measured by ELISA. In all groups, a significant increase occurs under septic conditions. Although vagus nerve stimulation (VGX LPS + STIM; black bar) appears to have an anti-inflammatory action, while vagotomy (VGX, gray bar) has a proinflammatory action, statistical examinations between the groups were insignificant. Statistical differences versus SHAM are given as *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001; n = 6 rats each. Data are given as the mean ± SEM.