Clinical measures of heat stroke recovery do not reflect tissue injury in a conscious rat model

Abstract

The time course of heat stroke (HS) thermoregulatory, circulatory and tissue injury responses during long term recovery are not well characterized. Using a conscious rat (Sprague‐Dawley, N=7/group) HS model, core temperature (Tc, ±0.1°C; radiotelemetry), kidney function (biliary urea nitrogen [BUN]; iStat), renal and hepatic injury (H&amp;E staining) were examined through 10 days of recovery. We hypothesized that clinical biomarkers of HS (Tc and BUN) would not accurately reflect the extent of tissue injury during long‐term recovery. Compared to control animals, HS rats developed fever on day 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8 of recovery (37.6°C ± 0.0 vs. 38.1°C ± 0.0; p<0.01). Although the incidence of renal lesions increased through 10 days of recovery in HS rats, BUN levels were similar (12 mg/dL) in control and HS rats. Hepatic lesions were most pronounced on day 2, but resolved by day 10 of recovery. In conclusion, these data indicate that typical clinical biomarkers of HS recovery, such as Tc and BUN are not accurate indicators of recovery or tissue injury following HS. Research supported by USAMRMC. Author views not official US Army or DoD policy.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2010
Source ID
10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.991.1

Entities

People

  • Bryan G. Helwig
  • Lisa R. Leon

Organizations

  • United States Army Medical Research and Development Command

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology