Stress hormone secretion and gut signal transducer (STAT) proteins after burn injury in rats.

peer reviewedA burn injury triggers traumatic reactions characteristic of a stress. Here we investigated the early responses of prolactin (PRL), corticosterone (CS), and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (Stat5) in male Sprague-Dawley rats after burn injury. PRL and CS levels were determined in blood serum. Stat5 and phospho-Stat5 levels were determined in jejunum total protein extracts. The results confirmed an expected increase of CS between 4 and 6 hours following the burn injury. Unexpectedly, PRL secretion was suppressed during the same time frame. These hormone levels returned to normal 6 to 8 hours after burn injury. Stat5 was increased in the jejunum after burn injury, and its phosphorylation was increased between 8 and 11 hours after burn injury. These changes in Stat5 were not temporally correlated with either the hormone changes that we observed, or with previously documented changes of the gut function following burns