Effects of fluorocarbon blood substitute on bone marrow erythropoietic function and phagocytic activity

Effect of fluorocarbon emulsions (FCE) on marrow eryrhropoiesis and phagocytosis in mice and rats were studied. The 24-h incorporations of 59Fe into circulating red blood cells were measured at 24,48, and 72 h after iv FCE 10 and 50 ml/kg, salin 50 ml/kg or ip the 59Fe uptake. FCE increased the incorporation of 59Fe into circulating RBC at 24 h, but not 48 nor 72 h after iv FCE 50 ml/kg. FCE 10 ml/kg did not alter the 59Fe uptake, but significantly increased the incorporation of [3H] TdR into DNA in bone mattow cells of mice after iv FCE 50 ml/kg. No significant difference in 99Tc-SRBC uptake in bone marrow of mice was seen between FCE and control grouos. It supports that FCE has no direct effect on phagocytic activity. Transmission electron microscopy showed slight proliferations of erythroblast cells and low density FCE granules in the nacriohage cytoplasm. In control rats, scanning electron microscopy rebealed macrophages of bone marrow covered with dense microvilli and a few bubble-like microprojections. Erythroblastic island dilations were seen in the bone marrow of rats 1-6 d after iv FCE 50 ml/kg, whereas the surface of activated macrophages were covered with a number of bubble like processes and slightly enlarged microvilli, suggesting that FCE accelerate the bone marrow metabolism. These studies indicate that FCE exert no adverse effects on marrow erythropoietic function and phagocytic activity and that it can be used as an artificial blood.