Inhibition of plasma extravasation after burns by D-myo-inositol-1,2,6-trisphosphate using digital image colour analysis.

D-myo-inositol-1,2,6-triphosphate (1,2,6-IP3) has beneficial effects in experimental, progressive burn-induced ischaemia and oedema. A 1 cm2 full-thickness burn was made in the skin of 20 rats with a hot aluminium rod followed by infusion of 1,2,6-IP3 (60 mg.kg.-1 h-1) or isotonic saline (n = 10 in each group). One hour later Evans blue was injected intravenously. Colour photographs of the area of the burn were taken in a standard manner before the burn and at intervals for three hours afterwards. The photographs were analysed by digital image colour analysis using normalised red-green-blue values. The increase in normalised blue values between 60 and 180 minutes after the burn was significantly reduced in animals treated with 1,2,6-IP3 compared with control animals (p < 0.001). Spectrophotometric analysis of extravasated Evans blue in the skin 180 minutes after the burn showed that it had been significantly inhibited by treatment with 1,2,6-IP3 (p < 0.001). In conclusion, digital image analysis allowed repeated evaluation over time and confirmed previous data about the ability of 1,2,6-IP3 to inhibit extravasation of plasma after burns.