OBJECTIVETo investigate the postburn change in the intestinal biological barrier in severely burned rats.

METHODSWistar rats inflicted by 30% TBSA III degree scalding on the back were employed as the model. The samples were harvested at 24, 48, 72 and 96 postburn hours (PBHs), respectively with the employment of microorganism analysis, biochemical and radio-immune methods for the study. The membranous flora in cecum, the mucin and sIgA in intestinal content, the intestinal endotoxin and bacterial translocation rate and quantification analysis and the endotoxin content in cava vein were observed.

RESULTSThe total intestinal membranous flora amount decreased, especially and obviously did the anaerobic bacteria such as bifidobacteria. But aerobic ones increased. In addition, The fungus and enterobacteria exhibited rapid overgrowth. This lead to evident imbalance between anaerobic and aerobic bacteria and to the destruction of intestinal biological barrier and the decrease of colonization resistance. As a result, the intestinal bacterial translocation rate increased markedly. The endotoxin content in the cava and intestinal containing increased, while the mucin and sIgA contents decreased.

CONCLUSIONIntestinal biological barrier could be severely damaged after major burn, which might be one of the causes of postburn intestinal infection.