Abstract
For the use as an artificial blood substitute, a number of pharmacological data on perfluorochemical emulsion have recently been reported, however, very little are known about the microcirculatory behavior of this substance. Thus, microhemodynamic effects of the intravenous injection of the emulsified perfluorotributylamine (Fluosol-43) were studied in the rat mesentery by the intravital microscope method.
Intravenous injection (7.5ml/kg) of Fluosol-43 emulsion resulted in a remarkable decrease in the whole blood viscosity. Capillary blood flow velocity measured within 30 minutes after the injection of the emulsion was found to increase by a factor of about 2.9 in maximum, which was attributable to a emulsifying agent rather than the hemodilution due to the replacement of the circulating blood. It was also noted that leucocytes showed increased tendency to adhere onto the vessel wall particularly in venules.
