Objective: To investigate changes of LDH and HBDH activity in rabbit serum after non-thermal low voltage electrical injury and to provide diagnostic criteria for non-thermal low voltage electrical injury.
Methods: Forty New Zealand rabbits were randomly distributed into control group and electrical injury group (EI-groups; designated 7 time points: 0 h, 2 h, 4 h, 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d), 5 rabbits per each group. EI-groups were treated with the method of non-thermal low voltage electrical injury established in our laboratory. Ventricular blood (5 mL) was obtained under anesthesia at designated time points after electrical injury. The activities of LDH and HBDH were measured.
Results: Dynamic changes were observed with certain patterns from target serum enzyme activities after electrical injury. Compared with control group, the activities of LDH increased markedly at 4 h, 12 h, and on days 1, 2, and 3 after injury (4 h, 12 h, and day 1 P<0.01; day 2 and day 3 P<0.05). Activities of HBDH increased markedly at day 2 and day 3 after injury (P<0.05). The ratio of HBDH/LDH decreased markedly at 2 h, 4 h, and 12 h after injury (P<0.01).
Conclusion: Dynamic changes of LDH and HBDH activities may be useful in diagnosis of non-thermal low voltage electrical injury and in estimation of post injury intervals.