Acute propranolol infusion stimulates protein synthesis in rabbit skin wound.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Propranolol administration has been demonstrated to improve cardiac work, decrease energy expenditure, and attenuate lipolysis in burned patients; however, its effect on wound healing has not been reported.

METHODS:

In rabbits, a partial-thickness skin donor site wound was created on the back, and catheters were placed in the carotid artery and jugular vein. A nasogastric feeding tube was placed for enteral feeding. On day 5 after injury, stable isotope tracers were infused to determine protein and DNA kinetics in the wound. Propranolol hydrochloride was injected in 1 group during the tracer infusion to decrease heart rate, and the other group without propranolol injection served as a control.

RESULTS:

The propranolol infusion decreased heart rate by 21%. The protein fractional synthetic rate in the wound was greater in the propranolol group (8.6 +/- 0.9 vs 6.1 +/- 0.5%/day, P < .05). Wound protein fractional breakdown rates were not significantly different. The rate of protein deposition (synthesis - breakdown) was increased in the propranolol group (5.0 +/- 1.2 vs 2.8 +/- 0.7%/day, P = .07). Wound DNA fractional synthetic rates were comparable. The protein fractional synthetic rate was correlated with percent decrease in heart rate, but expression of the beta-adrenergic receptors and downstream signaling cascades in local wounds were not affected after propranolol treatment.

CONCLUSION:

Propranolol infusion increased wound protein synthetic rate and tended to increase wound protein deposition rate, which might be beneficial to wound healing. These changes might reflect a systemic response to the beta-adrenergic blockade.

• Authors: Xiao-Jun Zhang, Chengyue Meng, David L Chinkes, Celeste C Finnerty, Asle Aarsland, Marc G Jeschke, David N Herndon
• Journal: Surgery (Surgery) Vol. 145 Issue 5 Pg. 558-67 (May 2009) ISSN: 1532-7361 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19375616 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Cell Cycle Proteins
• DNA
• Propranolol

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (administration & dosage)
• Animals
• Burns (metabolism, pathology, physiopathology)
• Cell Cycle Proteins (metabolism)
• DNA (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Enteral Nutrition
• Heart Rate (drug effects)
• Infusions, Intravenous
• Male
• Propranolol (administration & dosage)
• Protein Biosynthesis (drug effects, physiology)
• Rabbits
• Wound Healing (drug effects, physiology)