Toxic and anti-sodium action of thromboplastic extracts of skin and muscle in burn and tourniquet trauma in mice

Abstract

When mice subjected to standard thermal trauma received intraperitoneally small amounts of cell-free extracts of skin, muscle or brain with demonstrable thromboplastic activity, or heated extracts without thromboplastic activity, the mortality was enhanced in the first 8–12 hours postburn and the protective effect of administered saline was negated. When the volume of saline was increased progressively, the protective effect of the saline was counteracted by small amounts of tissue extract. Administration of heparin (which is capable of neutralizing the toxicity of skin extract injected intravenously) did not modify this delayed effect of skin extract. The data are interpreted to indicate that tissue trauma caused the release of cellular constituents (thromboplastin and others not yet identified) similar to those obtained from skin or muscle by homogenization with saline or water. Elucidation of the mechanism whereby these constituents of skin, muscle and brain cells produced these deleterious effects may enhance our understanding of the syndromes of both early and delayed death after severe burns and tourniquet injury.