Hemoglobin vesicles improve neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest in rats

To investigate the effects of hemoglobin vesicles (HbVs) in preventing hypoxic brain injury after cardiac arrest in a rat model of asphyxia-related cardiac arrest.

Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: HbVs (n = 18), control (n = 29), and sham (n = 7). Respiratory arrest was induced using muscle relaxants under ventilation. Cardiac arrest occurred 3-4 min later. After 8 min, HbVs or saline (5 ml/kg), adrenaline, and sodium bicarbonate were administered, followed by chest compressions and ventilation. Resuscitation was deemed successful with a mean arterial pressure > 60 mmHg sustained for at least 5 min. Behavioral and histopathological evaluations were performed 7 days later.

Survival rates were 39 % and 24 % in the HbVs and control groups, respectively (P = 0.308). Motor activity scores and spatial memory were significantly higher in the HbVs group (P < 0.001). Hippocampal CA1 region staining indicated significantly less neuropathy in the HbVs group (P < 0.001).

The administration of HbVs during resuscitation was effective in mitigating brain damage after whole-brain ischemia in rats, as demonstrated by improved histopathological and neurological outcomes. This suggests potential neurological benefits for patients during resuscitation, although further research in larger animal models is required to validate these findings.