Effects of peptide hormones on urea- and glycogen-synthesis of isolated hepatocytes and the influence of a toxic factor from burnt mouse and human skin.

A toxic extent has been isolated and partially purified from burnt human and mouse skin and also from sera of severely burnt patients, which causes disturbances of energy metabolism and decreased synthesis rates for glucose and urea in the perfused rat liver. Enzymatically isolated hepatocytes from rat livers were used to study the toxic effects on hormonal sensitivity, synthetic functions and ultrastructure of the cells. A decreased synthesis of urea and glycogen was found in cells from rats treated 5 days before with "toxin" and in cells, which were directly incubated with the toxic factor. Glucagon increased urea synthesis in normal cells by 33%, and a decrease of 25% was caused by insulin. Cells of rats treated with the nontoxic precursor of the toxic factor from normal skin were similar, while those treated with "toxin" produced less urea and did not react to glucagon or insulin. Glycogen synthesis was reduced in cells directly incubated with the "toxin", however, the hormonal effects were still observed. Surface alterations of "toxin" treated cells and cells of "toxin" treated rats were found by scanning electronmicroscopy. These findings provide evidence of a direct cytotoxic effect of the toxic factor from burnt skin. It is proposed that the "toxin" acts on the cellular membrane with destruction of surface and receptorproteins.