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Effect of chronic oral pentoxifylline administration on murine erythrocyte deformability
F E Johnson1, K C Tolman, S A Farr
1Department of Surgery, St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110-0250, USA.
Background:
Pentoxifylline has been reported to increase radiation sensitivity in vivo. We sought to evaluate whether this effect is mediated by changes in murine erythrocyte flexibility.
Methods:
Pentoxifylline was administered via liquid or solid diet to young adult male CF-1 mice for 1-6 weeks. After 1, 3, and 6 weeks of drug administration, plasma levels of pentoxifylline and major derivatives were measured and erythrocyte deformability was assessed by rheoscopy, a technique which permits direct measurement of individual cellular dimensions.
Results:
Contrary to prior reports, we found no discernible effect of the drug on erythrocyte deformability.
Conclusions:
The beneficial effect of pentoxifylline administration on radiation sensitivity in tumor-bearing mice is mediated by other mechanisms.