OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of single or combined administration of cedilanid and small-dose of enalaprilat on heart, liver, kidney and intestine damages at early stage of severe scald in rats.

METHODSForty healthy male Wistar rats were enrolled in the study and randomly divided into: sham, burn control, cedilanid, enalaprilat, cedilanid + enalaprilat groups, with 8 rats in each group. Rats, except that of sham group (simulated scald with 37 degrees C water) were inflicted with 30% TBSA full-thickness scald, and were injected with Ringer's lactate solution (4 mLxkg(-1)x1% TBSA(-1)) intraperitoneally 30 minutes after burn. Then rats in cedilanid group were given cedilanid injection (0.2 mg/kg) intravenously, and those in enalaprilat group were given enalaprilat (1 mg/kg), and cedilanid + enalaprilat group with cedilanid and enalapril in the same dosage. At 6 post burn hour (PBH) or sham injury, parameters of myocardiac mechanics were recorded with the Multiple Channel Physiological Signal Collecting and Processing System. The blood flow of the liver, kidney and intestine was respectively detected with the Laser Doppler Flowmetry at 6 PBH. Serum contents of cTnI, TBA, beta2-MG and DAO were determined at 6 PBH to reflect visceral damages.

RESULTSCompared with those in sham group, the parameters of myocardiac mechanics and blood flow of liver, kidney, intestine (158 +/- 32, 156 +/- 46, 119 +/- 30 PU, respectively) in burn control group were obviously decreased (P < 0.05), and the serum contents of cTnI, TBA, beta2-MG, DAO (5.0 +/- 0.3 microg/L, 82 +/- 23 micromol/L, 2.55 +/- 0.15 mg/L, 1.52 +/- 0.08 kU/L, respectively) in burn control group were obviously increased (P < 0.05). Compared with those in burn control group, the parameters of myocardiac mechanics and blood flow of liver, kidney, intestine in the cedilanid or enalaprilat groups increased markedly, and their serum contents of cTnI, TBA, beta2-MG, DAO decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Compared with those in burn control group, the parameters of myocardiac mechanics and blood flow of liver, kidney, intestine (240 +/- 49, 239 +/- 75, 194 +/- 55 PU, respectively) in cedilanid + enalaprilat group increased significantly (P < 0.05), and the serum contents of cTnI, TBA, beta2-MG, DAO (3.43 +/- 0.21 microg/L, 47 +/- 8 micromol/L, 2.01 +/- 0.16 mg/L, 1.17 +/- 0.15 kU/L, respectively) were decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSingle administration of cedilanid or small-dose enalaprilat can ameliorate impairment of cardiac functions, prevent damages to liver, kidney and intestine in early stage of severe scald in rats. Combined administration of cedilanid and small-dose enalaprilat seems to be more effective.