Serum Transaminase Response to Drum Trauma in Conditioned Animals

Abstract

Summary

A means of assessing degree of tolerance to traumatic shock was sought in the serum transaminase response to trauma induced by a Noble-Collip drum. Normal rats exposed to increments of trauma exhibited a proportional increase in serum transaminase activity. Similarly treated trauma resistant animals which had been conditioned in the drum exhibited significantly lower serum enzyme activity. The lower transaminase response in these animals was not altered by blockade of the reticuloendothelial system which abolished their tolerance to drum trauma. Tolerance to drum trauma which was induced by other procedures such as compound 48/80 or dibenzyline treatment was not accompanied by a lower transaminase response. These observations indicate that the transaminase response is not applicable as a general indicator of resistance to trauma. The generalized trauma manifested by the Noble Collip drum did produce a dramatic elevation of the serum transaminase activity but no significant change in tissue level was observed. As noted earlier, however, only a very small change in transaminase content of a large tissue mass would easily account for the increase observed in the serum activity. As a general criterion of trauma tolerance, SGOT has fallen short, but it may be useful in studies involving trauma to restricted areas such as in limb ischemia and the separation of local and systemic aspects of traumatic shock.