Protein metabolism in burned rats.

Abstract

Incorporation of [2-14C]glycine was used to estimate serum protein synthesis in four groups of rats. These were the control (group C); 20% body surface burn (group B); 20% burn, seeded with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (group BI); and burned-infected treated topically with mafenide (alpha-amino-p-toluenesulfonamide) acetate (group BIS), a treatment which controls P, aeruginosa burn-wound infection in humans. On the 6th day postburn the relative specific activities of all fractions were increased in the order BI greater than BIS greater than B greater than C, as were the concentrations of the globulins; Serum albumin concentration fell, being lowest in BI. Tissue albumin contents, measured by radioimmunoassay, of eviscerated blood-free bodies of rats were (mg/100 g rat wt): C, 207; B, 294; BI, 256. Analyses of individual tissues showed that the difference was due to increased albumin content in the burn-wound area. The tissue albumin was of normal molecular size and was immunologically reactive. We conclude that the prolonged hypoalbuminemia following burn injury is not a consequence of impaired albumin synthesis, but a result of altered compartmentation.

• Authors: W L Brown, E G Bowler, A D Mason Jr, B A pruitt Jr
• Journal: The American journal of physiology (Am J Physiol) Vol. 231 Issue 2 Pg. 476-82 (Aug 1976) ISSN: 0002-9513 [Print] United States
• PMID: 961900 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Blood Proteins
• Serum Albumin
• Water
• Mafenide
• Glycine

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Proteins (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Body Weight
• Burns (metabolism)
• Glycine (metabolism)
• Mafenide (pharmacology)
• Male
• Muscles (metabolism)
• Pseudomonas Infections (metabolism)
• Rats
• Serum Albumin (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Water (metabolism)