EFFECTS OF PYRIDOXALATED HEMOGLOBIN POLYOXYETHYLENE CONJUGATE AND OTHER HEMOGLOBIN-RELATED SUBSTANCES ON ARTERIAL BLOOD-PRESSURE IN ANESTHETIZED AND CONSCIOUS RATS

The effects of pyridoxalated hemoglobin polyoxyethylene conjugate (PHP) and other hemoglobin-related substances on arterial blood pressure (ABP) and heart rate (HR) were examined. Infusion of PHP and other hemoglobin-related :substances elevated ABP and increased HR, The degree of the increase in ABP and HR did not differ among the groups. There were species' differences in responses to PHP. Pretreatment with various blockers did not abolish the elevation of ABP. The pretreatment of N-G-monomethyl-L-arginine dose-dependently reduced the elevation of ABP but did not completely abolish it. PHP also elevated ABP in conscious rats. The magnitude of the ABP elevation was significantly smaller than in the anesthetized rats. Results indicate that inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) might be responsible in part for the elevation of ABP, and the degree of the elevation would be dependent on the degree of contribution of NO to the regulation of ABP.