Effect of Poloxamer 188 on deepening of deep second-degree burn wounds in the early stage

Objective

To discuss the effect of Poloxamer 188 (P188) on deepening of deep second-degree burn wounds in the early stage after burn.

Methods

We divided Wistar rats with deep second-degree burn wounds on the backs thereof into two groups, then intravenously injected P188 for the treatment group and intravenously injecting physiological saline for the control group, detecting the activity of Na⁺–K⁺–adenosine triphosphatase (Na⁺–K⁺–ATPase), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the content of malonaldehyde (MDA) and succinic dehydrogenase (SDH) in the burn wound, and showing the degree of necrosis in the wound by haematoxylin–eosin (HE) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunohistochemical staining.

Results

In the control group and treatment group, the activity of SDH and Na⁺–K⁺–ATPase dropped to the lowest point 24 h after the burn took place, and then increased gradually, but was still far lower than the normal level at the furthest time point. At 24 h after burn, activity of SDH and Na⁺–K⁺–ATPase in the treatment group was higher than that of the control group (P < 0.05); the activity of MPO of the control group reached the highest point at 24 h while that of MPO of the treatment group reached the highest point after 48 h; later, that of MPO of both groups decreased, but was still higher than the normal level. Compared with the highest values of the activity of MPO of both groups, that of the control group was higher than that of the treatment group (p < 0.05); the contents of MDA of both groups kept increasing after the burn; 72 h later, that of the control group was higher than that of the treatment group (p < 0.05). HE and PCNA staining showed progressive damage of the wound in the treatment group, which was decreased with treatment, particularly at the early stages.

Conclusion

Systemic application of P188 on deep second-degree burn wounds at the early stage may alleviate wound deepening, whose mechanism may be related to timely sealing up the damaged cell membrane and inhibiting the inflammatory reaction.