Objective: To observe changes in hepatic
ultra - structure in severely scalded rats at the early stage and to study the effect
of
salvia miltiorrhiza injection on the changes. Method: Eighty - eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. In group A, 8 healthy rats served as normal control. In group B, 40 rats were scalded and immediately treated with intra - peritoneal injection of lactated Ringer's solution (120 mg/kg) for equilibrium resuscitation. In group C, 40 rats were scalded and treated intra - peritoneally with lactated Ringer's solution (120 mg/kg) and salvia miltiorrhiza injection (3 ml/kg). At 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours post injury, 2 rats from groups B and C were killed and their hepatic left lateral lobes were fixed with 95% alcohol and 2. 5% glutaraldehyde respectively. Histological changes in the liver tissue were observed under optical and electron microscopes. Result: A series of histological and
ultra - structure changes in the liver were found at 6 hours post injury and became progressively more severe and reached the worst at 48 hours post injury. In group C, the pathological changes in liver tissue was less than that in group B. Conclusion: There is a series of histological and ultra - structure changes in the liver tissue of scalded rats at the early stage post injury. Salvia miltiorrhiza injection can lessen the severity of the changes.