title: 17β-Estradiol reappropriates mass lost to the hypermetabolic state in thermally injured rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The hypermetabolic response to severe thermal injury is unlike any physiologic response seen in medicine. While some parallels can be drawn to shock and sepsis states, this response is typified by its intensity and duration. Our group has been interested in the myriad effects of estrogens after injury, specifically the ability of estrogens to reduce inflammatory responses. Given this, and the known link between severe inflammation and the hypermetabolic response, we examined the effects of a single dose of 17β estradiol administered after a severe thermal injury in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve male Sprague-Dawley rats were subject to either a sham burn or a 40% total body surface area burn, followed by fluid resuscitation. Burned animals were divided into a vehicle and treatment group, with injections given 15 min after the injury. Animals were monitored for a period of 45 d, with markers of hypermetabolism (weight, fecal output, food intake, and serum insulin and glucose) measured daily.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified a significant difference in daily measured weights between the burned groups. We observed a sparing of body mass during the acute phase lasting 2 wk after the injury and an improved recovery phase during the remainder of the study. Glucose and insulin levels during the first week of the study did not differ between the treatment groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estrogen may have a role in preserving body mass after severe thermal injury. Further studies are required to determine if this spared body mass composition.
authors.affiliation: Division of Burns, Trauma, and Critical Care, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA. kareem.abdelfattah@phhs.org
authors.forename: Kareem R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Abdelfattah
authors.forename: Joshua W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Gatson
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Maass
authors.forename: Steven E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Joseph P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Minei
authors.forename: Jane G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Wigginton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects*; D002056:Burns / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D004958:Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D004958:Estradiol