[The time course and tissue distribution of endotoxin in rats after thermal injury].

Objective: To observe the time course and tissue distribution of endotoxin, and to evaluate the potential role of local endotoxin in mediating multiple organ damage following burns.
Methods: Wistar rats were subjected to a 35 percent full-thickness scald injury. They were grouped according to time of sacrifice: no burn, and 12, 24, 48, 72 hours postburn. Tissue specimens from liver, kidneys, lungs and intestine were aseptically harvested to determine tissue endotoxin levels. In addition, blood samples were obtained for measurement of organ function parameters.
Results: It was found that endotoxin levels in liver, spleen and lungs increased markedly after thermal injury, with the highest level in liver. Meanwhile, serum GPT, GOT, CK-MB levels, and pulmonary myeloperoxidase(MPO) activities markedly elevated after scald injury, reaching a maximum between 12 and 24 hours. Intestinal diamine oxidase(DAO) activities tended to decrease at various time points postburn. In addition, there were highly positive correlations between pulmonary endotoxin levels and MPO activities, and also between renal endotoxin levels and serum Cr values.
Conclusion: Burn injury per se can result in gut-derived endotoxin translocation which is mainly distributed to the liver, spleen and lungs. Endotoxin accumulated in local sites may play an important role in mediating multiple organ damage secondary to major burns.