Pharmacologic effects of the red blood cell substitutes cross-linked and non-cross-linked hemoglobins on hematopoiesis in rabbits.

The red blood cell substitutes beta-beta cross-linked (DECA-Hb, XLBV-Hb) and non-cross-linked (HbA) hemoglobins (Hbs), were transfused into rabbits and their effects on hematopoiesis examined. All rabbits receiving DECA-Hb or XLBV-Hb tolerated the Hbs well, whereas 50% of the animals transfused with similar doses of non-cross-linked HbA died. Analysis of peripheral blood and bone marrow BFU-E and CFU-GM production revealed that there was no significant variation in the generation of BFU-E and CFU-GM numbers for each cross-linked Hb transfusion group, but there were significant reductions in the HbA group. In animals transfused with cross-linked Hbs, splenic heme oxygenase (HO) activity was similar to that of controls; liver HO activity was slightly elevated, whereas HO activity was significantly increased in kidneys. Transfusion with non-cross-linked HbA produced greater inductions of HO activity in the liver and kidneys. Hepatic delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) activity was significantly reduced in HbA-transfused animals, whereas transfusion with cross-linked Hbs produced only minor, statistically nonsignificant, reductions in ALAS activity.