Intravenous Pluronic F-127 in early burn wound treatment in rats.
A dramatic improvement in full skin thickness burn wounds in rats treated intravenously with the non-ionic surfactant Pluronic F-127 (F-127) has been demonstrated. In this study the F-127 was given 30 min postburn to simulate conditions encountered in a clinical setting. Anaesthetized male rats (300-320 g) received full skin thickness burns by immersion of the anterior chest wall (8 per cent body surface area in a 70 degrees C water-bath for 12 s). Burn wound area was measured immediately and after 48 h. Thirty minutes after the burn, half the animals received equal volumes (8 ml/kg body wt) of either saline or F-127 (12 mM/l concentration) via the tail vein. The animals autopsied at 48 h showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the degree of wound contraction and the wound appeared grossly less damaged in the F-127-treated animals. Histologically, skin biopsies showed less of the microscopic damage usually associated with full skin thickness burns in the F-127-treated animals than in the saline controls. We also used thermography to measure skin temperature of the burn area at 90 min and 48 h postinjury demonstrating alterations in the F-127-treated animals (P < 0.05). In animals followed for 30 days postinjury, there was a significant (P < 0.01) improvement in the wound closure rates in the F-127-treated animals. These observations show a positive therapeutic effect of F-127 on the inflammatory process in the area of a burn that may improve wound healing.
Department of Surgery, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta.
P W
PW
Paustian
J C
JC
McPherson
R R
RR
Haase
R R
RR
Runner
K M
KM
Plowman
D F
DF
Ward
T H
TH
Nguyen
J C
JC
McPherson
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011060:Poloxalene / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D012881:Skin Temperature; D013817:Thermography; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing
D011060:Poloxalene