Hemoglobin vesicle (HbV) could be a useful
blood substitute in emergency medicine. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of HbV on cardiac function after
ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) ex vivo. Isolated rat hearts were perfused according to the Langendorff method. An
ischemia-reperfusion group (n = 6) was subjected to 25 minutes of global
ischemia and 30 minutes of reperfusion. HbV (
hemoglobin, 0.33 g/dL) was perfused before
ischemia-reperfusion for 10 minutes (HbV group, n = 6). Hemodynamics were monitored, and tissue
glutathione contents were measured. The redox state of reactive
thiols in cardiac tissues was assessed by the biotinylated
iodoacetamide labeling method. Left ventricular developed pressure was significantly recovered in the HbV group after 30 minutes of reperfusion (56.3 ± 2.8 mm Hg vs.
ischemia-reperfusion group 27.0 ± 8.0 mm Hg, P < 0.05). Hemodynamic changes induced by HbV were similar to those observed when N-nitro-
L-arginine methyl ester was perfused for 10 minutes before
ischemia-reperfusion (
L-NAME group). The
oxidized glutathione contents of cardiac tissues significantly decreased, and biotinylated
iodoacetamide labeling of
thiols was maintained in both the HbV and the
L-NAME groups. HbV improved the recovery of cardiac function after
ischemia-reperfusion in isolated rat hearts. This mechanism is dependent on functional protection against
thiol oxidation.