General Pharmacology of PEG-Hemoglobin SB1

PEG-hemoglobin SB1 (SB1), which is a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier, is intended to use as a safe blood substitute against brain ischemia and stroke. The general pharmacological profiles of SB1 were studied. The doses given were 0, 5, 10, 20 ml/kg and drugs were administered intravenously. The animals used for this study were mouse, rat and guinea pig. SB1 showed no effects on general behavior, motor coordination, spontaneous locomotor activity, hexobarbital sleeping time, anticonvulsant activity, analgesic activity, blood pressure and heart rate, left ventricular peak systolic pressure, left ventricular end diastolic pressure, left ventricular developing pressure, double product, heart rate, coronary flow rate, smooth muscle contraction using guinea pig ileum, gastrointestinal transport, gastric secretion, urinary volume and electrolyte excretion at all doses tested except the decrease of body temperature. These findings demonstrated that SB1 possesses no general pharmacological effects at all doses tested.