The Experimental Study Of Protective Effect Of Ligustrazine On The Early Pulmonary Injury Following Burns In Guinea-pigs

Objective To investigate the protective effect of ligustrazine on the early pulmonary injury following burns and the possible mechanism. Methods An animal model, in which guinea-pigs were subjected to 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full thickness thermal injury, was used for this experiment. Ninety animals were randomized into the simple fluid resuscitation group, Ligustrazine-treated group and normal control group. Blood samples were collected at post-burn 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours, measured the contents of IL-8 in the plasma by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The histological and ultrastructural changes in the lung, blood-gas analysis and lung index were dynamically examined at 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours after burn injury respectively. Results The level of plasma IL-8 elevated significantly at post-burn 2h, persisting to 72h following burns, but the plasma IL-8 concentration in ligustrazine-treated group was lower than that in fluid resuscitation group. Similarly, lung index was significantly increased at post-bum 2h, persisting to post-bum 24h. Compared with fluid resuscitation group, the increase of lung index was lightened in ligustrazine-treated group. Pao2 of blood was significantly decreased at post-burn 2h and 4h, but not decreased in ligustrazine-treated group. A series of histological and ultrastructural changes in lungs were found at post-burn 2 and 4 hours, became serious at post-burn 8 and 12 hours, and lightened at post-bum 24 and 48 hours. Compared with the fluid resuscitation group, the pathological changes were obviously alleviated in ligustrazine-treated group. Conclusion IL-8 plays an very important pathogenic role in lung injury; Ligustrazine can decrease the permeability of pulmonary microvascularity, inhibit the release of JL-8 and reduce PMN infiltration in lung. Therefore, ligustrazine can alleviate the early pulmonary injury following bums.