Adrenalin tolerance does not prevent bacterial translocation in a murine burn model

Burn injury causes mesenteric vasoconstriction and bacterial translocation. Since catecholamines are powerful vasoconstrictors and elevated immediatel y after burn injury, we hypothesised that adrenaline tolerance might decrea se bum-induced mesenteric vasoconstriction and bacterial translocation. Adr enaline tolerance was developed in Swiss albino mice. Adrenaline tolerant a nd control animals were subdivided into sham-burn and burn subgroups. 24 h after sham-burn or burn injury, specimens were obtained for microbiological evaluation. Also, in a separate group of adrenaline tolerant and control a nimals, superior mesenteric blood flow was measured. Burn injury increased bacterial translocation rate in both control (P = 0.001) and adrenaline tol erant groups (P = 0.0351). The caecal bacterial level increase was signific ant after burn injury in control groups (P = 0.0004) but was not significan t in adrenaline tolerant animals (P = 0.743). Mesenteric blood flow was dec reased significantly by burn injury in both control and adrenaline tolerant animals (P < 0.00001). The results showed that catecholamines do not media te postburn mesenteric vasoconstriction or bacterial translocation.