title: Epidermal growth factor limits structural alterations in gastrointestinal tissues and decreases bacterial translocation in burned mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Burn injury produces acute gastrointestinal derangements that may predispose to bacterial translocation (BT). We studied effects of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (r-HuEGF), a gastrointestinal trophic hormone, on gastrointestinal alterations and BT after murine burn injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  r-HuEGF was administered 1 and 12 hours after burn injury in a dose of 4 micrograms per animal subcutaneously after 25% and 32% total body surface area (TBSA) scald burn. Small bowel and gastric weight and histologic factors were studied, and BT was measured by culturing mesenteric lymph nodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice treated with r-HuEGF maintained gastric and small intestine weight measured 24 hours after burn injury, and ileal mucosal height was preserved, whereas burned-untreated mice lost organ weight and mucosal height. BT was decreased significantly in mice with 32% TBSA burn injury treated with r-HuEGF after injury (burn, 64.2% of animals had BT; burn-r-HuEGF, 34.6% had BT; p < 0.05). After 25% TBSA burn injury, BT was also decreased in r-HuEGF-treated animals (burn, 31.4% of animals had BT; burn-r-HuEGF, 14.3% had BT), but the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  r-HuEGF improves intestinal and gastric structure in mice 24 hours after burn injury and decreases BT after 32% TBSA burn injury.
authors: Department of Surgery, University of California-San Diego Medical Center 92103.
authors: R L
authors: RL
authors: Zapata-Sirvent
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Hansbrough
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Wolf
authors: L S
authors: LS
authors: Grayson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Nicolson
mesh_terms: D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009929:Organ Size; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor