ADIPOQ and infection: In contrast, systemic levels of the anti-inflammatory adipokine adiponectin significantly decreased in serum from rats with endocarditis when compared to control animals (4670.5 ± 669.3 ng/mL versus 6844.3 ± 680.3 ng/mL at day 2 after infection and 4146.0 ± 669.5 ng/mL versus 7604.5 ± 709.7 ng/mL at day 3 after infection; p = 0.004 in two-way ANOVA) (Figure 1(d)).