Increased tissue lipoprotein lipase activity in guinea pigs following burn trauma.

Accelerated clearance of circulating triglycerides has been observed in thermally injured patients, which suggests that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity may be increased. The present study was initiated to ascertain if heart, skeletal muscle, or adipose tissue LPL activities are affected by burn trauma in guinea pigs. Anesthetized guinea pigs were immersed into room temperature water (nonburned) or boiling water (burned) to the iliac crest for three seconds and sacrificed seven or 24 hours later. Myocardial and adipose tissue LPL activities were 60% and 125% greater, respectively, in burned guinea pigs 24 hours after injury than in nonburned animals. LPL activity in skeletal muscle from the burned region, red vastus, was significantly increased seven hours after injury, but the change after 24 hours was not significant. Muscle LPL activities examined in the nonburned region, diaphragm and red triceps, were increased 24 hours after thermal injury. Increased tissue LPL activities after thermal injury may enhance the clearance of circulating triglycerides.