Intravascular circulation and distribution of human 51Cr-DBBF stroma-free hemoglobin, 51Cr-plasma, 51Cr-saline, 59FE-plasma, and 125I-albumin in the mouse.

Male B6C3HF1 mice were infused with human 51Cr-labeled DBBF (bis 3,5-dibromosalicyl fumarate) crosslinked stroma-free hemoglobin (SFH). In the first hour following SFH infusion, 11.2% of the infused radioactivity was found in the skin, 11.4% in muscle, 9.1% in the skeleton, and 5% in the liver. Twenty-four hours after infusion, 15.4% of the radioactivity was found in the skin, 10.3%, in the muscle, 16.6% in the skeleton, and 6.7% in the liver. The circulation and distribution of 51Cr-labeled DBBF-SFH were compared with levels of 51Cr labeled plasma, 51Cr in saline, 59Fe labeled plasma, and 125I albumin. The radioactivity in the blood was similar for 51Cr-DBBF-SFH, 51Cr-plasma, and 59Fe-plasma. During the 24-hour post-infusion period, extravascular distribution of the 51Cr-saline, 51Cr-plasma, and 125I albumin within the organs was similar to that of 51Cr-DBBF-SFH, with the highest levels being in skin, muscle, skeleton and liver, and no increase in the levels in the lung or spleen. The distribution of 59Fe compared to that of 51Cr-DBBF, 51Cr-plasma, 51Cr-saline, and 125I albumin can be explained by the fact that 59Fe is utilized in the production of new red blood cells.