AIM: To study the effects of florfenicol on early cytokine response and survival in treatment of infected murine induced by septic shock. METHODS: The effect of florfenicol on cytokine production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages was investigated by using a mouse macrophage cell line. The influence of florfenicol on the survival rate of mice injected with lethal dose of endotoxin and early cytokine responses in endotoxemia mice were determined. The serum cytokine productions of mice were determined at different time points. RESULTS: Florfenicol significantly reduced the productions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the supernatant of cells as well as slightly attenuated the secretions of interleukin-1β(IL-1β) and interleukin IL-10 (IL-10). No significant difference in IL-1β concentration was observed between florfenicol-treated group and control group. However, florfenicol significantly increased serum IL-10 concentration of mice. Finally, it was found that florfenicol (at the dose of 100 mg/kg) significantly increased the survival rate of mice compared to the control group after mice were administrated LPS. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that florfenicol can improve survival rate of endotoxemia mice via modulating early cytokine responses and antibiotics mighty be of potential usefulness in treatment of bacterial shock. AIM: To study the effects of florfenicol on early cytokine response and survival in treatment of infected murine induced by septic shock. METHODS: The effect of florfenicol on cytokine production from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) -stimulated macrophages was investigated by using a mouse macrophage cell line . The influence of florfenicol on the survival rate of mice injected with lethal dose of endotoxin and early cytokine responses in endotoxemia mice were determined. The serum cytokine productions of mice were determined at different time points. RESULTS: Florfenicol significantly reduced the productions of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the supernatant of cells as well as slightly attenuated the secretions of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin IL- -1β concentration was observed between florfenicol-treated group and control group. However, florfenicol significantly increased serum IL-10 concentration of mice. Finally, it was found that florfenicol (at the dose of 100 mg / kg) significantly increased the survival rate of mice compared to the control group after mice were administrated LPS. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that florfenicol can improve survival rate of endotoxemia mice by modulating early cytokine responses and antibiotics mighty be of potential usefulness in treatment of bacterial shock.