The effect of carbon monoxide poisoning on hemorheological parameters in rats and the alterations in these parameters in response to three kinds of treatments.

This study aimed to investigate the short term effects of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and three kinds of poisoning treatments; namely room air, normobaric and hyperbaric oxygen on hemorheological parameters such as red blood cell (RBC) deformability, aggregation, blood and plasma viscosity. 43 Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups. Poisoning was induced by exposure to 4000 ppm CO (1 h). The poisoning protocol was followed by 3 types of treatments; room air, normobaric 100% oxygen and hyperbaric oxygen for 1 h. RBC deformability and aggregation were determined using an ektacytometer (LORCA) and a cone-plate rotational viscometer was used for the viscosity measurements. RBC deformability of CO poisoned rats were found to be elevated and the treatments applied, caused decrement of this parameter. A no significant increment tendency was found in erythrocyte aggregation after CO exposure. Although room air and hyperbaric oxygen treatments caused further significant elevations in the amplitude of aggregation, normobaric oxygen therapy induced decrement in this parameter towards control levels. No significant alterations were observed in viscosity values among the groups. The results of this study demonstrate normobaric oxygen therapy as a better choice of treatment after CO poisoning in hemorheological point of view.