Diaspirin crosslinked hemoglobin: evaluation of effects on the microcirculation of striated muscle.

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers such as diaspirin-crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb) have been proposed for blood substitution due to their plasma expansion and oxygen transport capacity. This study investigates the effects of DCLHb on the microcirculation of striated muscle after moderate topload infusion and isovolemic exchange transfusion in awake hamsters. The skinfold chamber model in hamsters and intravital fluorescence microscopy were used for analysis of vessel diameter, red blood cell velocity (RBCV), leukocyte sticking to the microvascular endothelium, and macromolecular leakage in striated skin muscle. In each animal, arteriolar and postcapillary vessel segments were chosen and sequentially recorded on videotape (baseline). Animals were subjected to either topload infusion (10% of blood volume) or isovolemic exchange transfusion (hct 30%) of DCLHb followed by measurements at 10, 30, and 60 min thereafter. In vivo visualization of plasma and leukocytes was performed using FITC-dextran 150,000 and rhodamine 6G, respectively. No significant changes of vessel diameter and RBCV were observed after topload infusion or isovolemic exchange transfusion with DCLHb, either in postcapillary venules or in arterioles when compared with baseline values. Leukocyte sticking and macromolecular leakage were not found enhanced after administration of DCLHb. We conclude that the introduction of DCLHb-bound oxygen into the tissue does neither stimulate leukocyte adhesion nor impair endothelial integrity.