Severe trauma, mainly burn, may promote immunodepression. Thimic hormones may modify the immune response to this condition. The aim of this experimental research was to investigate, after burn, the immunomodulatory effect of timoestimulin, a thimic hormone, on celular immunity studied by the delayed hypersensitivity skin test (TCHT). On the first phase of the experiment, Wistar rats were sensitized with KHL and submitted to TCHT. Ten animals with positive tests were submitted to a standardized skin burn. Sequencial skin tests showed significant skin anergy at 21 and 30 days after burn and interruption of weight gain. In the next phase, positively sensitized rats were divided randomly in group TAQ (six) and treated with timoestimulin, 0,25 mg, im, before and after burn; group TDQ (six rats) treated with the same dosage of timoestimulin just after burn and group CSQ (five rats) treated with saline, im, after burn. There was a significant increase of body weight and skin test response at two weeks after burn in TAQ and TDQ groups. At the conditions of the present research, timoestimulin given before and after experimental burn was associated to improvement of delayed cellular hypersensitivity skin test and body weight gain.
Burns; Imunologics adjuvants; Thymus hormones; Rats
