Estrogens ameliorate remote organ inflammation induced by burn injury in rats.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

The present study was designed to investigate the role of sex steroids in burn-induced remote organ injury.

MATERIAL OR SUBJECTS

Male Wistar albino rats were given burn trauma (n=39), and underwent castration or sham operation at 2 h following the burn injury.

TREATMENT

Rats were injected sc with either 17beta estradiol benzoate (E2, 10 mg/kg) or an androgen receptor blocker cyproterone acetate (CPA, 25 mg/kg) or vehicle, immediately after burn and at 12 h.

METHODS

At 24 h of burn insult, rats were decapitated. Blood samples for RIA of testosterone, estradiol and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and the tissue samples for myeloperoxidase activitiy (MPO) were taken. ANOVA student's t test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Castration, antiandrogen and E2 treatments increased plasma estradiol levels and depressed burn-induced elevation in serum TNF-alpha levels. In the liver and lung, burn-induced increase in MPO was reduced by E2 and castration, while CPA was effective in reducing neutrophil infiltration only in the liver.

CONCLUSION

We propose that treatment with estrogens or antiandrogens might be applicable in clinical situations to ameliorate systemic inflammation induced by burn.