OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of hibernation drugs on postburn stress and inflammatory reaction in severely scalded rats.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats inflicted with 30% TBSA deep partial thickness scalding were employed as the model. The rats were divided into A (scalding with immediate resuscitation), B (scalding with immediate resuscitation and lytic cocktail), C (scalding with delayed resuscitation), D (scalding with delayed resuscitation and lytic cocktail) and E (sham injury) groups. The rat plasma levels of NE (norepinephrine), E (epinephrine) and DA (dopamine) were determined by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 postburn hours (PBHs), and the plasma IL-1alpha and PGE(2) levels were detected by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and RIA (radioimmunoassay) methods. The NF-kappaB activity in PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) was determined by laser scanning confocal microscope.

RESULTSThe plasma NE and E levels reached summit at 6 PBH, while those in B group were lowest. But the plasma DA level was similar among all groups at all time points. The plasma IL-1alpha and PGE(2) levels increased continuously, however, the levels were were lower in B than A groups at the same time points, and also that of D were lower than C groups. At the same time points, the levels in B group were lower than those in D group. The NF-kappaB was located in the cytoplasma of PBMCs in E group and in the nucleus in A group at 6 PBH. Furthermore, the NF-kappaB was concentrated more in the cytoplasm than that in the nucleus in B group, while it was more concentrated in the nucleus in C and D groups.

CONCLUSIONThe secretion of stress hormones could be attenuated by hibernation drugs. The plasma cytokine levels and the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in PBMCs could also be modulated by the drugs.