The LPS-induced endotoxemia mouse model

C57BL/6 mice were orally administered vehicle (saline, 200 µl/20 g, n=7) or berberine (100 or 200 mg/kg/day, n=8 each dose) for 3 days twice daily. On day 4, LPS (20 mg/kg, i.p.) was injected 3 hours after last berberine administration. One hour later, mice were anesthetized with diethyl ether and whole blood was collected by cardiac puncture. Plasma was obtained by whole blood centrifugation and stored at -20℃ until assayed. Lungs and spleens were isolated and immediately frozen, and stored in liquid nitrogen until assayed. All tissues were homogenized and then lysed using a Prep-sol (iNtRON, Korea) prior to analysis.