Effects of hippocampal NMDA receptor on HPA axis activity following severe burn / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the changes of HPA axis activity following scald stress and to elucidate if NMDA receptor is involved in this change. Methods Adult male Wistar rats were inflicted with 30% TBSA full thickness scalding burn, which was applied as severe trauma stress model. Using this model, we detected the changes of serum cortisol and ACTH concentration in scald rats pretreated with intrahippocampal microinjection of NMDA receptor antagonist MK801 or NMDA receptor 1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide. Results Intrahippocampal microinjection of MK 801 6 ?g resulted in an significant decrease of serum cortisol and ACTH concentration at 2 h after burn, and microinjection of MK 801 12 ?g resulted in a more significant decrease of these values. In accordance with microinjection of MK 801, intrahippocampal microinjection of NMDA receptor 1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide of 10 nmol/L and 20 nmol/L also resulted in a significant and a more significant decrease of serum cortisol and ACTH concentration after burn. Conclusion Hippocampal NMDA receptor plays an important role in over excitation of HPA axis following burn.