Fig. 2

Plasma (free) CORT, ACTH and POMC concentrations and hepatic gene expression of A ring reductases. a Diamonds and whiskers represent plasma total corticosterone concentrations (full line, linear scale on the left Y-axis, ng/ml) and plasma ACTH concentrations (dashed line, linear scale on the right Y-axis, pg/ml). b Bars represent estimated free corticosterone levels (linear scale on the right Y-axis, AU: fold of healthy control). Shaded gray area represents healthy reference range (mean ± SEM of the healthy control groups over all days). c Bars represent plasma POMC concentrations (linear scale on the right Y-axis, pg/ml). All data are presented as mean ± SEM. d Gene expression of hepatic CORT-metabolizing enzymes 5α- and 5β-reductase. Box-and-whiskers represent median and interquartile ranges (AU: fold of healthy control).*p ≤ 0.05 between sepsis and healthy control mice. AU, arbitrary units; D, days