Glutaraldehyde-polymerized porcine hemoglobin (pPolyHb) is a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier currently being developed as a potential red blood cell substitute. We assessed the protective effect of pPolyHb on transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Several outcomes were tested, including infarct size, neurological score, production of inflammatory factors, and markers of oxidative status. Our results show that pPolyHb can not only significantly reduce infarct volume and improve neurological score, but can also inhibit the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β. Furthermore, the generation of MDA and MPO was reduced by pPolyHb. We conclude that pPolyHb has a positive effect on transient focal cerebral I/R injury.
Keywords: focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury; inflammatory response; polymerized porcine hemoglobin (pPolyHb); protective effect.