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Respiratory dysfunction is a frequent complication after severe burn injury. Respiratory muscle atrophy may induce respiratory dysfunction due to insufficient inspiratory motive power. Accumulated evidence suggests that apoptosis is very important in skeletal muscle atrophy in multiple pathologic conditions. Therefore, we hypothesize that myonuclear apoptosis contributes to diaphragm atrophy induced by burn injury, and death receptor signaling activation plays a role in this process.

Wistar rats in the burn-injured group were subjected to a full-thickness scald injury around 40% of total body surface area. Diaphragm samples were examined for myonuclear apoptosis by transmission electron microscope, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay, and immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. Serum level of apoptotic ligands were assessed by ELISA. Activation of death …