[Relation between changes in monoamine transmitters and brain edema after thermal burns in rats]

The HPLC with electro-chemical detector was employed to determine the change in monoamine transmitters and their metabolites murine hypothalamus, brainstem and spinal cord after burn. Also the pathological changes after burn in three brain parts was observed with photomicrograph and electromicrograph. The results show that: the monoamine contents were increased remarkably 5 min after burn, and even 360 min after burn, the monoamine contents were still higher than before the burn. The changes however, were different in the three brain parts. Edema appeared 5 min after burn in the three parts, and it was more evident in the hypothalamus. After icv phentolamine and CPA, edema was decreased. These results suggest that brain edema after thermal burn is related to changes in monoamine transmitters of CNS, mediated by receptor and 5-HT synthesis.