Erythropoiesis and artificial blood substitution with a perfluorocarbon-polyol.

Rats were perfused with Fluosol-43, a perfluorotributylamine-pluronic F-68 emulsion, to produce hematocrits of about 6% and the mechanisms of blood cell replacement were studied. The packed RBC volume and number of RBCs per cubic millimeter increased gradually as the time after perfusion was completed until reaching the preperfusion level at about 1 week. The WBCs per cubic millimeter, which were not as severely depleted because of their vast storage compartment, increased to preperfusion levels by 24 hr and continued to increase through 7 days. Plasma did not show significant Ep activity until 48 to 72 hr after perfusion was concluded. Thus, although 90% of the RBCs were removed, elevated erythropoietin activity was not detected immediately because the perfluorocarbon compound replaced the capacity of the RBCs as an oxygen and carbon dioxide carrier.