Effects of drag-reducing polymers on microcirculation of normal rat hindlimb skeletal muscle.

Objective: To observe the effects of polyethylene oxide (PEO) on microcirculation of normal rat hindlimb skeletal muscle.

Methods: Sixteen male Wistar rats were anesthetized and equally and randomly divided into PEO group (administered with 10 ppm PEO solution) and control group (administered with equal volume of normal saline). The PEO solution or saline was separately injected through the caudal vein at a constant rate of 5 ml/h for 20 minutes.