Background In recent years, many studies have shown that valproic acid (VPA) can protect the function of important organs.
Objective To study the effects of VPA on abdominal organ function and blood flow in severely scalded rats with seawater immersion injury during delayed fluid rehydration.
Methods One hundred and eighty male SD rats were randomly divided into the simple scalds group + delayed fluid rehydration group (S group, n=60), scalds + seawater immersion + delayed fluid rehydration group (SS group, n=60) and scalds + seawater immersion + VPA + delayed fluid rehydration group (SSV group, n=60). All groups were soaked in boiling water at 100℃ for 15 seconds on their back and hip, which were inflicted with 35% of the total body surface area full-thickness scald. S group received intravenous rehydration at 2 h after scald. SS and SSV groups were immersed in artificial seawater (23℃, 30 min) immediately after scalding, and SSV group were subcutaneously injected with VPA (300 mg/kg) after seawater immersion, and these two groups received intravenous rehydration at 2 h after seawater immersion. The rehydration volume was based on 1/2 Parkland formula, and all groups were intravenously infused with lactated Ringer's solution (completed within 30 min). Twenty rats in each group were selected to observe the 24-hour survival rate. Four time observation points were set: pre-injury, immediately after seawater immersion (0 h), 2 h after seawater immersion (2 h) and 5 h after seawater immersion (5 h), ten rats were selected from each group to measure mean arterial pressure (MAP), rectal temperature (RT), lactic acid (Lac), abdominal organ function indexes, blood flow and histopathological changes at each time point.
Results The 24-hour survival rate of the SS group was significantly lower than that of the SS group and the S group (55% vs 75% and 90%, P＜0.05). At 0 h, 2 h, 5 h after injury, compared with the S group, MAP, RT and abdominal organ blood flow decreased significantly while the levels of Lac and abdominal organ function increased significantly in the SS group (all P＜0.05); At 2h, 5h after injury, the indexes and histopathology of the SSV group were significantly improved compared with those of the SS group (all P＜0.05).
Conclusion In severely scalded rats with seawater immersion injury during delayed fluid rehydration, subcutaneous injection of VPA immediately after injury can increase MAP, reduce Lac, improve abdominal organ blood flow, protect abdominal organ function and increase 24-hour survival rate.
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