Burn injury induces histopathological changes and cell proliferation in liver of rats

Aim: To investigate effects of severe burn injury (BI) in rat liver through the histopathological and inflammatory markers analysis.

Methods: Forty-two male Wistar rats were distributed into two groups, control (C) and subjected to scald BI (SBI). The animals were euthanized one, four and 14 d post sham or 45% of the total body surface BI. Liver fragments were submitted to histopathological, morphoquantitative (hepatocyte area and cell density), ciclooxigenase-2 (COX-2) immunoexpression, and gene expression [real-time polymerase chain reaction for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and caspase-3] methods.

Results: Histopathological findings showed inflammatory process in all periods investigated and hepatocyte degeneration added to increased amount of connective tissue 14 d post injury. Hepatocyte area, the density of binucleated hepatocytes and density of sinusoidal cells of SBI groups were increased when compared with control. COX-2 immunoexpression was stronger in SBI groups. No differences were found in TNF-α, iNOS and caspase-3 gene expression.

Conclusion: BI induces histopathological changes, upregulation of COX-2 immunoexpression, and cell proliferation in liver of rats.