Polyethylene-oxide improves microcirculatory blood flow in a murine hemorrhagic shock model.

BACKGROUND Polyethylene oxide (PEO) is a synthetic polymer commonly used in medicine production to reduce toxicity. In the present study, we assessed whether PEO can have a functional effect on improving microcirculatory blood flow after hemorrhagic shock in an animal model. METHODS Hemorrhagic shock (HS) was introduced in 78 C57BL/6 mice, which were then equally divided into two groups. One group of mice was intravenously injected with PEO (diluted in Ringer's solution (RS), PH = 7.4), and the other with RS only. The parameters of microcirculatory hemodynamics, arterial blood gas analysis and multi-organ functions were compared between two groups, 0, 3, 12 and 24 hours after resuscitation. RESULTS After HS, the hemodynamics, including microvascular diameter, red blood cell velocity, and blood flow rates were significantly improved in time-dependent manners in PEO treated mice. Most parameters of arterial blood gas analysis, except PCO2, were also significantly improved by PEO. Multi-organ immunohistochemistry demonstrated that congestions and inflammatory responses in liver and lung were markedly ameliorated by PEO. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that PEO infusion could effectively improve microcirculation after hemorrhagic shock and increase the chance of survival in animal models.