Background: Severe sepsis increases pro-inflammatory cytokines and damage to the intestinal mucosa, causing systemic translocation to the commensal bacteria. Low zinc levels were also found in patients with sepsis. Objective: This study aims to explain the mechanisms of sepsis improvement after zinc administration by measuring NFkB expression and mucosal intestinal repair. Material and Methods: Samples of 40 rats were randomized into 4 group of Control, LPS, LPS-Zinc, and Zinc . Blood sampling in 2-hour after LPS or placebo administration to measure zinc level. Zinc was administered in LPS-Zinc and Zinc group, placebo was given in other groups. Blood sampling in 8, 24 and 72 hours to measure NFkB monocyte expression by sandwich-ELISA method and in 72 hours also measured the zinc content by AAS method and jejunal tissue by SEM analysis. Statistical analyzes used were one-way Anova, Kruskall Wallis, Mann-Whitney, Paired-t tests, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test and path analysis. Results: There were decreased in NFkB monocyte expression in the LPS-Zinc group compared to the LPS group. Conclusion: Improvement of intestinal mucosa occured in LPS-Zinc group. We can conclude that the administration of zinc in sepsis improves the condition of sepsis and improving intestinal mucosa (villi structure of jejunum).

Zinc

Sepsis

Cytokine

Intestinal Mucosal