Therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of skin burns with several calmodulin antagonists.

1. Several calmodulin antagonists abolished the decrease in ATP level and in the activities of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and mitochondrial and soluble hexokinase, induced by burns in the rat skin. 2. These antagonists had also a protective action on the blood capillaries and erythrocyte membrane, as judged by the electron microscopic appearance, as well as the abolishment of hemoglobin increase and burn edema. 3. Of all the compounds investigated here, the most effective were trifluoperazine and thioridazine, which are also known as the more potent calmodulin antagonists. 4. The present experiments suggest that calmodulin antagonists may be effective drugs in treatment of burns, having both therapeutic and prophylactic action.