COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF NERVE GROWTH-FACTOR AND SUPEROXIDE-DISMUTASE ON VASCULAR EXTRAVASATION IN EXPERIMENTAL BURNS

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), a free-radical scavenger, inhibits the inc rease of vascular permeability in experimental burn lesions in vats. I n this study the aim was to determine whether Nerve Growth Factor (NGF ), which has been implicated in the modulation of some inflammatory re actions, behaves in an analogous way. The study compares the haematocr it (Ht) and haemoglobin (Hb) variations in three groups of rats treate d respectively with saline solution, SOD and NGF, immediately after ca using a 25 per cent dermal burn injury. Statistical comparison (Studen t's t test) of the Ht and Hb variations between the Control group (Ht and Hb increase) and the NGF group (Ht and Hb decrease), shows signifi cant differences in the intervals between 15 and 60 min (P < 0.01) and between 60 and 120 min (P < 0.05). Although SOD is able to control ex travasation in the immediate postburn period (basal-15 min), NGF has a comparable effect in subsequent periods. The overall action of NGF sh ows that this agent is able to maintain Ht and Hb values at basal leve ls even after 120 min postburn. These results seem to be the first evi dence of an inhibitory effect of NGF on the vascular permeability in b urn lesions.