EFFECTS OF A PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR ANTAGONIST ON EDEMA FORMATIONFOLLOWING BURNS

Deep dermal burns covering 30 per cent of the total body surface area were prepared by immersing the backs of rabbits in hot water at 80-deg rees-C for 20 s, to determine whether platelet activating factor (PAF) was involved in the onset of oedema following burns and to evaluate t he effect of TCV-309, a potent PAF antagonist. The PAF antagonist, whi ch was infused soon after the burn, blocked oedema formation in the wo und and significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited PAF increase (P < 0.05) in the damage tissue in a dose-dependent manner. This was confirmed by i mmunohistochemistry. In contrast, the superoxide dismutase content in the group treated with a high dose of TCV-309 was significantly (P < 0 .001) higher than that of the control group. These findings suggest th at administration of large doses of a PAF antagonist immediately after injury prevents oedema of burn wounds and the subsequent onset of bur n shock by suppressing PAF and superoxide radical formation.