Combined application of alpha-tocopherol and FC-43 perfluorocarbon emulsion suppresses early postburn lipid peroxidation and improves deformability of erythrocytes.

The effect of FC-43 perfluorocarbon emulsion and alpha-tocopherol on lipid peroxidative damage and deformability of erythrocytes was evaluated in rats (full skin thickness burns over 15-20% of total body surface) at third hour after burns. The animals were divided into five groups: (1) non-burnt non-treated (controls); (2) burnt non-treated; (3) burnt but treated with alpha-tocopherol ("Serva", Germany, 20 mg/kg b.m. i.p.) (4) burnt treated with FC-43 emulsion ("Green Cross Corp.," Japan, 5 ml/kg, i.v.); (5) burnt treated with combination of alpha-tocopherol (20 mg/kg) and FC-43 perfluorocarbon emulsion (5 ml/kg). In the burnt non-treated group the concentration of alpha-tocopherol decreased by 38% (p < 0.05), the levels of malonyl dialdehyde (MDA) and fluorescent damaged products raised by 32% (p < 0.001) and by 52% (p < 0.001) of the controls, respectively, whereas the deformability of red blood cells diminished by 34% (p < 0.001). Both the accumulation of MDA and fluorescent lipid peroxidation products and the decrease in deformability of affected cells were suppressed significantly by alpha-tocopherol treatment which also prevented the decrease in erythrocyte alpha-tocopherol content. FC-43 emulsion lowered the level of MDA but did not restrain the reduction in erythrocyte deformability significantly. The combined application of alpha-tocopherol and FC-43 emulsion immediately after thermal skin injury decreases peroxidative membrane damage and improved erythrocyte deformability more significantly than alpha-tocopherol at the third hour after thermal skin injury.