EFFECT OF SUBARACHNOID ADMINISTRATION OF ALPHA-ALPHA DIASPIRIN CROSS-LINKED HEMOGLOBIN ON CEREBRAL BLOOD-FLOW IN RATS

As extravasated red blood cells have been implicated in the pathogenes is of perfusion deficits after subarachnoid hemorrhage, alpha-alpha di aspirin crosslinked hemoglobin (DCLHb(TM)) might have a detrimental ef fect on cerebral perfusion after subarachnoid hemorrhage. We evaluated the effect of subarachnoid administration of DCLHb on cerebral blood flow (CBF). Rats were randomized to receive one of the following solut ions into the cisterna magna: Control-0.3 ml of mock cerebrospinal flu id; Blood-0.3 ml of autologous blood; DCLHb-0.3 ml of 10% DCLHb. After 20-min, the area of cerebral hypoperfusion was determined (CBF <40 ml . 100g(-1). min(-1)). The area of hypoperfusion (% area of a coronal brain section, mean+/-SD) was greater in the Blood group (58+/-16) tha n the DCLHb (16+/-7) and Control (5+/-5) groups (p <0.05), and was gre ater in the DCLHb group than the Control group (p <0.05). These data s upport a hypothesis that extravasation of blood from the intravascular to the subarachnoid space induces cerebral hypoperfusion. Moreover, t he data support the hypothesis that although extravasated molecular he moglobin decreases CBF, the adverse effect is not as severe as a simil ar volume of blood.