The effects of furosemide and pentoxifylline on the flow properties of equine erythrocytes: in vitro studies

• Published in: Veterinary research communications Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 373 - 381
• Main Authors: Weiss, D.J. (Minnesota Univ., St Paul, MN (USA). Dept. of Veterinary Pathobiology), Evanson, O.A, Geor, R.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 1994
• Subjects: Animals; BLOOD; BLOOD CIRCULATION; Blood Viscosity - drug effects; CABALLOS; CHEVAL; CIRCULACION SANGUINEA; CIRCULATION SANGUINE; DEBIT; DRUGS; ERITROCITOS; ERYTHROCYTE; Erythrocyte Indices - drug effects; Erythrocyte Indices - veterinary; ERYTHROCYTES; Erythrocytes - chemistry; Erythrocytes - drug effects; Erythrocytes - physiology; EXPERIMENTACION IN VITRO; EXPERIMENTATION IN VITRO; FLOW RATE; FUROSEMIDE; Furosemide - pharmacology; GASTO; HAEMORRHAGE; HEMORRAGIA; HEMORRAGIE; HORSES; Horses - blood; IN VITRO EXPERIMENTATION; MEDICAMENT; MEDICAMENTOS; Pentoxifylline - pharmacology; POTASIO; POTASSIUM; Potassium - analysis; Regional Blood Flow; SANG; SANGRE; VISCOSIDAD; VISCOSITE; VISCOSITY
• ISSN: 0165-7380; 1573-7446
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01839288

The effects of various concentrations of furosemide and pentoxifylline on equine RBC in vitro were evaluated to facilitate better understanding of the potential effects of these drugs on blood flow properties. Furosemide induced increased mean cell volume (MCV), increased RBC potassium concentration, increased whole blood viscosity, and decreased the RBC filtrability. These data indicate that furosemide may block the RBC membrane transport pathways resulting in potassium and water retention. The increase in size and the resultant decrease in the surface-area-to-volume ratio may have caused the impaired RBC filtrability and increased blood viscosity. Pentoxifylline improved RBC filtrability without changing the RBC size or the potassium or chloride concentrations, suggesting that pentoxifylline may increase the deformability of the RBC membrane. The study indicated that pentoxifylline has potential therapeutic applications for improving microvascular blood flow but that furosemide may have adverse effects on blood flow.