OBJECTIVETo observe the expression of insulin in the brain tissue of rat after scald.

METHODSFifteen Wistar rats subjected to 30% TBSA scald were enrolled in the study. Zamboni fixating solution was infused into left ventricle and the brain tissue was harvested at 4, 12 and 24 post-scald hours (PSH) for the detection of insulin expression with fluorescent immunohistochemistry, with 5 rats at each time-point. Another group of 10 rats were enrolled as controls.

RESULTSThere exhibited no obvious insulin expression in the brain tissue of rats in the control group. Insulin immune responsive positive cells were detected in the olfactory bulb and cerebral cortex of rats at 4 PBH. These cells were big with oval and fusiform shape, big, round, transparent nuclei, and prominent processes. The positive insulin substance was mainly distributed in cytoplasm, and some in the processes of cells. No insulin immune-responsive cells were observed in rat brain tissue at 12 and 24 PSH.

CONCLUSIONThe brain have the potentiality of self-biosynthesis of insulin, but very little of synthesized insulin exists in normal states, but the amount increases after scald.