Introduction
Septic encephalopathy is a sepsis-related brain dysfunction with a deterioration of cortical functions. The experimental studies in the rat brain revealed a deranged neurotransmitter proflle during septic encephalopathy. Glutamatergic synapses, essential in learning and memory, undergo use-dependent changes in synaptic strength, referred to as plasticity. Permanent strengthening of synapses after a brief stimulus, termed long-term potentiation (LTP), was discovered in the hippocampus, and here it has been most thoroughly studied. Cholinergic neurotransmission plays an important role in regulating the cognitive functions of the brain. It acts as a signal-to-noise ratio modulator of sensory and cognitive inputs. The irregularities in brain functions give rise to the symptoms of delirium, including disorganized thinking and disturbances of attention and consciousness, which in turn might affect learning and memory. Possible mechanisms for cholinergic deficiency include impairment of synaptic functions of acetylcholine. Imbalances in the cholinergic system during sepsis might therefore play an extensive role in the septic delirium.