title: A first evaluation of the natural high molecular weight polymeric Lumbricus terrestris hemoglobin as an oxygen carrier.
abstract: Lumbricus terrestris hemoglobin (LtHb), an unusually stable Hb (MW approximately 4x10(6) Da) with respect to dissociation and oxidation, circulates extracellularly in the earthworm and at neutral pH exhibits oxygen affinity and cooperativity similar to that of human HbA. Results suggest that LtHb may serve as a model for a high molecular weight extracellular oxygen carrier. Mice and a rat model partially exchanged with LtHb showed no apparent behavioral and physical changes. 31P NMR spectroscopy of perfused guinea pig hearts, used to assess phosphocreatine levels as an indication of the ability of LtHb to serve as an oxygen carrier to the heart, demonstrated that LtHb provides oxygen to the tissue and maintains the energy metabolism significantly better than the control non-Hb perfusion media. One day after infusion, video enhanced microscopy imaging of the mice cremaster muscle vasculature reveals temporal adhesion of leukocytes to the endothelial walls with temporal infiltration of leukocytes to the surrounding tissue, correlated with dosage. Exchanged mice rechallenged with LtHb show no overt allergic response or death. Further evaluation of this natural extracellular Hb as a potential polymeric Hb blood substitute/perfusion agent is warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461, USA.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jelicks
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Wittenberg
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kaul
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Shear
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Harrington
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001704:Biopolymers; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000502:physiology; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D008970:Molecular Weight; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000098:blood supply; D009835:Oligochaeta; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen