[Effect of lipoperoxide on catabolism of protein in burns in rats]

The effects of lipid peroxide on protein catabolism after severe burn injury are studied. Burned rats (30% TBSA III) were divided randomly into two groups: group A (N = 120) received I. M. injection of bovine serum albumin (BSA) served as control; group B (N = 146), the treated group, receiving I. M. injection of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). It was found that in PBD 5, 7, 9, 11, 3-Methyl histidine (3-Mehis) excretion was significantly lower in group B than in group A (P less than 0.01); and that in group B cumulative urinary nitrogen (UN) excretion and cumulative nitrogen balance in the eleven-day period after burns were significantly lower than in group A (P less than 0.01); On PBD 12, serum GOT and GPT were higher significantly in group A than that in group B (P less than 0.05). Besides, in group B the total nitrogen content in liver and gastrocnemius muscle on PBD 12 was significantly higher than in group A (P less than 0.05). These findings suggest that a certain relationship exists between lipoperoxide and increased protein catabolism after severe burns. SOD and CAT, the oxygen radical scavengers, can reduce protein catabolism to a certain extent, and protect the hepatic function from being injured.