Hormonal derangement and abnormal renal haemodynamics in the acute phase of severe burns in rats

A severe burn is characterized by the development of hyperenzymatic levels in plasma and biochemical changes in the blood as well as generalized hormonal dysregulation. This hypercatabolic state reflects the generalized enhanced proteolytic enzyme systems following severe burns. Since anuria often develops in the first hour following severeburns, we investigated the role of renal vasoactive peptides in the early events following severe scalding in order to know the extent of their involvement in the pathogenesis of deranged renal function. Male Wistar rats weighing 200 to 300 g were subjected to a 25% surface area burn by immersing their shaved dorsal surface in water at 70°C for 60seconds under pentobarbital anaesthesia. A reduction in urinary kallikrein excretion was found (P