RELATIONSHIP OF BURN SIZE TO VASCULAR-PERMEABILITY CHANGES IN RATS

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 149  (2) , 193-202
Abstract
Studies to determine the relationship between increased vascular permeability, water content and protein leakage, and burn size were performed on rats. Partial thickness scald burn covering 10, 20, 30 and 40% of the rats'' body surface area were induced in 4 groups of rats. A 5th group of rats served as controls. Following the burn all rats received i.v. fluid resuscitation. Burn edema was maximal at 3 h post-burn for the 30 and 40% groups. The edema persisted throughout the 24 h study. No significant change in water content of unburned skin was demonstrated. Albumin leakage into injured tissues was maximal at 30 min and disappeared by 12 h post-injury. The size of the burn had no effect on 131Risa [radioiodinated serum albumin] leakage into injured tissues. Albumin leakage into noninjured tissues occurred only in the 30 and 40% burn groups, was mild compared with that in burned tissues and disappeared by 12 h post-burn. Extravasation of albumin in lung, liver, spleen, kidney and muscle was mild and seen only in the 30 and 40% burn groups. Except for a mild increase in water content of lung tissue in the 30 and 40% groups only, no consistent increase in the water content of other organs was observed. While the size of the burn appears to have some influence on capillary permeability, burns up to 40% of the body surface have only a mild and transient effect upon capillaries distant to the site of injury. Apparently there is a humoral mediator for capillary permeability, and more pronounced changes can occur with larger burns. Albumin extravasation appears short-lived.

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