[Protective effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone against lipid peroxidation injury during traumatic shock in rats]

In this paper are reported the results of a study on the protective effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH, 0.5mg/100g) against lipid peroxidation injury during traumatic shock in rats. Cardiac and lung tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in TRH group were lower than those in normal saline (NS) group (P less than 0.05) 1 hr after shock. Cardiac, liver, kidney and lung tissue MDA contents 3 hrs after shock and liver and kidney tissue MDA contents 5 hrs after shock in TRH group were lower than those in NS group (P less than 0.05). TRH could increase the endogenous superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in vital organ tissues. 5 hrs after shock, liver, kidney and lung tissue SOD activities in TRH group were still higher than those in NS group (P less than 0.05). In addition, TRH could depress the elevation of plasma MDA content, raise blood pressure and 24-hr survival rate of the animals in shock. It was found that TRH has not the effect of directly scavenging oxygen-derived free radicals in vitro. The results demonstrated that the beneficial effects of TRH during traumatic shock may be related to its protection against lipid peroxidation injury in vital organ tissues.