Cardiac UCP2 Expression and Myocardial Oxidative Metabolism During Acute Septic Shock in the Rat

Abstract

Although polymicrobial sepsis decreased cardiac mechanical efficiency and increased UCP-2 expression coincident with premortal hypothermia, we did not detect any evidence of UCP-2 protein in septic heart muscle. These data argue against the hypothesis that UCP-2 causes decreased cardiac mechanical efficiency in septic shock.