[The dynamic changes and significances of endothelins in early burned rats].

Objective: To elucidate the significance of endothelins in visceral injury at the early stage of burn.

Methods: By use of a 30% (III degree) total body surface area (TBSA) burn rat model, we measured the concentration of endothelins in plasma, heart, liver, lung, kidney, and observed the effects of PD145065, a kind of non-selective ETA-ETB receptor antagonist, on visceral impairment.

Results: Not only did the endothelin concentration in plasma of burnt rat elevated significantly, showing a peak at 6 hours postburn, but also the endothelin contents in internal organs apparently increased. The changes in endothelin in liver or kidney were negatively correlated with the alteration in renal or hepatic blood flow. Moreover, administration of endothelin receptor antagonist PD145065, without affecting the arterial blood pressure, could revert the decrease of renal or hepatic blood flow to some extent, reduce the water contents of heart, liver, lung, kidney postburn.

Conclusion: The abnormal changes in endothelins postburn contribute to visceral injury in the early postburn stage in rats.