OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the myocardial expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1) protein and its association with myocardial edema in rats with severe burns.

METHODSForty-eight healthy adult Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (n=6) and burn injury group with third degree burn of 30% total body surface area, and the latter group was further divided into 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h groups. The changes of myocardial water content were investigated by dry-wet weight methods. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the changes in AQP1 expression at different time points after sever burns.

RESULTSThe myocardial water content and AQP1 expression increased significantly 2 h after the burn injury, reaching the peak levels at 12 h and remaining higher than the normal level at 48 h. A significant positive correlation was found between myocardial water content and AQP1 expression in the rats (r=0.868, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe severity of myocardial edema after severe burn is correlated to the expression level of AQPl protein, suggesting the important role of AQPl protein in pathological progression of myocardial edema.