Attenuation of postischemic reperfusion injury in striated skin muscle by diaspirin-cross-linked Hb

Hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers have been suggested to enhance the formation of oxygen free radicals, especially under conditions of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), in which activation and adhesion of leukocytes play a pivotal role for propagation of reperfusion injury. This study investigates the effects of the hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier diaspirin-cross-linked hemoglobin (DCLHb) in an I/R model of hamster striated skin muscle. The dorsal skinfold chamber model in the awake Syrian golden hamster was used for analysis of the microcirculation and local tissue P O 2 in striated skin muscle utilizing the technique of intravital fluorescence microscopy and a multiwire platinum surface (Clark type) electrode. Measurements were made before 4 h of pressure-induced ischemia and at 0.5, 2, and 24 h of reperfusion. Animals were treated with 5 ml/kg body wt of either 10% DCLHb (n = 8), 6% Dextran 60 (Dx-60; 60 kDa, n = 8), or 0.9% NaCl (n = 7), which was given intravenously 15 min before reperfusion. In animals tre...