Effect of hyperbaric oxygen on intestinal mucosa injury of severe burn rats

Objective To explore the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on intestinal mucosa injury of severe burn rats. Methods Forty-five male healthy adult SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the sham group(n = 16), the burn injury group(n = 14), and burn injury + HBO group(n = 15). The animals in burn injury groups sustained 3-degree burn injury on the back with a total body surface area (TBSA) of 30％.Twenty-four hours after bum injury, those in the HBO group were exposed to 95％ oxygen at a pressure of 0. 15MPa, 1 hour a day, for a succession of 5 days. On the 7th day after bum injury, blood samples from the intestinal mucosa and inferior vena cava were collected to detect differences in pathological changes in the intestinal mucosa of various groups, and serum levels of diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate were also measured. Results When compared with the sham group, significant pathological changes in the intestinal mucosa could clearly be seen in the bum injury group. Following exposure to HBO, lesion in the intestinal mucosa improved obviously. On the 7th day after bum injury, levels of DAO and D-lactate increased significantly. However, after HBO treatment, the levels of DAO and D-lactate decreased significantly. Conclusions HBO seemed to have the effect of protecting the barrier of intestinal mucosa in severe burn rats. Key words: Hyperbaric oxygen;  Bum injury;  Intestinal mucosa;  Immune function;  Diamine oxidase;  D-lactate