We have previously shown that
glucosamine administration resulted in higher cardiac output and improved tissue perfusion after
trauma-
hemorrhage with
resuscitation in rats, which was associated with the increased levels of
protein O-linked-
N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc). The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of
glucosamine on the survival, without
resuscitation, in rats. Adult male rats underwent midline
laparotomy and 55% of total blood volume was withdrawn for 25 min under
isoflurane anesthesia. At the end of the
hemorrhage period, 2.5 mL of 150 mM
glucosamine or equivalent osmolarity of
mannitol solution was injected intravenously for 10 min. The survival time, mean blood pressure, heart rate, and central body temperature were monitored continuously; then, the O-GlcNAc levels in heart, brain, liver, and muscle were measured by means of Western blot analysis.
Glucosamine administration significantly increased the survival rate in comparison with
mannitol administration (percentage of survival after 2 h, 47% vs. 20%; P < 0.05). The mean arterial pressure was significantly higher in the
glucosamine group for 18 min
after treatment. The
protein O-GlcNAc levels, assessed 30 min after
glucosamine treatment, were significantly increased in the heart, brain, and liver. These data demonstrate that i.v.
glucosamine administration improves the survival rate after
trauma-
hemorrhage without
resuscitation; this effect may be related to the
glucosamine-induced increase in
protein O-glycosylation. Furthermore, the increase in mean arterial pressure may suggest a vasoactive and/or positive inotropic effect of
glucosamine in
hypovolemic shock.