ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: An overabundant discharge of inflammatory mediators plays a significant role in intestinal injury throughout the early stages of critical burns. The present study aims to explore the outcome of 200mM hypertonic saline (HS) resuscitation on the intestinal injury of critically burned rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups: sham group (group A), burn plus lactated Ringer's group (group B), and burn plus 200mM HS group (group C). Samples from the intestine were isolated and assayed for wet-weight-to-dry-weight (W/D) ratio, histopathology analyses, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. Serum interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß) and high mobility group protein box 1 (HMGB1) concentrations were also examined. RESULTS: Initial resuscitation with 200mM Na+ HS significantly decreased the intestinal W/D ratio and improved intestinal histopathology caused by severe burn. HS resuscitation also inhibited the increase of serum IL-1ß and HMGB1 concentrations, and p38 MAPK activity in the intestine of critically burned rats. CONCLUSIONS: The overall findings of this study suggest that preliminary resuscitation with 200mM HS after severe thermal injury reduces intestinal edema, inhibits systemic inflammatory response, and attenuates intestinal p38 MAPK activation, thus reduces burns-induced intestinal injury.
