| The traditional method of resuscitation therapy for patients undergoing hemorrhagic shock is usually by infusion of large volumes of isotonic saline or Ringer's lactate. This helps to restore the fluid volume, but shock victims also exhibit a decreased oxygen consumption rate. The carotenoid compound, crocetin, has been found to increase oxygen consumption, presumably by enhancing the diffusivity of oxygen through the blood plasma. It has also been observed that an increased oxygen consumption corresponds to an increased survival rate during shock. Thus, it is possible that crocetin, when added to a resuscitation fluid, could lead to an improved treatment for hemorrhagic shock.;The current study made use of a constant-volume hemorrhaged rat model in order to better understand this novel therapy. A new compound, trans sodium crocetinate (TSC) was identified and found to be superior to crocetin for this purpose. It was discovered that TSC allowed smaller volumes of resuscitation fluids to be used. In addition, it was possible to delay fluid resuscitation if an injection of TSC were given first.;It is suggested that TSC is beneficial for treating shock because it increases oxygen diffusivity through plasma. However, studies were also done to determine if TSC scavenges free radicals or affects the production of nitric oxide (NO), which might be mechanisms by which TSC could also act. TSC was shown to scavenge hydroxyl free radicals but not superoxide free radicals. NO was not found to be produced using this hemorrhage protocol; thus ruling out this mechanism in this particular case. In order to determine what might be the predominant mechanism for TSC in treating hemorrhagic shock, another free radical scavenger was tested. It, however, did not increase oxygen consumption during hemorrhage. Thus, it is suggested that TSC probably acts mainly by increasing oxygen diffusivity. |
