Detection of endothelin 1,2 and endothelin-like immunoreactant in wound surface and plasma in mice with thermal injury

Abstract

Endothelin is a well known vasoconstructive peptides produced by endothelial cells and has been reported to regulate the systemic circulation. The authors investigated changes in endothelin in plasma and the surface of wounds induced with thermal injury using an experimental ear burn model in mice. At 0, 15, 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after thermal injury the plasma endothelin-like immunoreactant levels were 1.50 ± 0.21, 1.86 ± 0.36, 2.81 ±0.55, 2.62 ± 0.27, 1.54 ± 0.14 and 1.25 ± 0.19 fmol/ml (N=8), respectively. Endothelin-like immunoreactant levels in the plasma increased gradually until 30 minutes after the thermal injury. Endothelin-like immunoreactant content in the ear before thermal injury and at 60 minutes after injury were 7.04 ± 0.64 and 8.61 ± 1.24 fmol/ear (N=8), respectively. The change in endothelin-like immunoreactant after thermal injury originated from endothelin 1,2; that is, the endothelin-1,2 content of the burned ear increased significantly 15 and 60 minutes after thermal injury to 12.52 ± 0.68 and 11.58 ± 1.04 fmol/ear, respectively, compared with 1.78 ± 0.91 fmol/ear (N=8) obtained before injury. These results suggested that endothelin 1,2 existed in the region of the wound caused by thermal injury.