Perflubron emulsion increases subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension in rats

Oxygen plays a central role in wound healing. The hypothesis of this study was that the administration of a perfluorocarbon emulsion, which dissolves oxygen will increase subcutaneous tissue oxygen tension (PsqO2) in normovolemic and hemorrhaged animals. In the first set of experiments, PsqO2 was measured with a polarographic oxygen electrode along the dorsum of normovolemic-anesthetized rats (n=20) breathing supplemental oxygen. After baseline equilibration of tissue oxygen tension, perflubron emulsion (n=12) or saline control (n=8) was administered. Perflubron administration increased PsqO2 by 32.0 +/- 7.2 mmHg, whereas saline administration had no effect (-1.0 +/- 6.6 mmHg). In a second set of experiments, PsqO2 (n=12) was measured in rats breathing 100 percent oxygen after being bled 20 percent of their blood volume. Creating hypovolemic rats allowed for the study of the effect of perflubron emulsion administration on subcutaneous oxygen tension in tissues with compromised blood flow. Perflubron emulsion was only effective at increasing oxygen tension in tissues with oxygen extractions less then 2.0 vol%. These findings agree with those results analytically predicted based on the oxygen solubility of the perflubron emulsion.