ACTIVATED-CHARCOAL HEMOPERFUSION VIA AN EXTRACORPOREAL CIRCUIT IN THE UNRESTRAINED AND UNANESTHETIZED RAT

  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (4) , 400-410
Abstract
The hemoperfusion technique has been used to remove drugs and toxins in both man and experimental animals. Repeated hemoperfusion over activated charcoal was performed in unanesthetized and unrestrained rats, using a specially designed system. This allowed the effects of hemoperfusion on body wt, organ wt and various biochemical and hematological parameters to be studied, without the possible influence of repeated stress and exposure to anaesthetic agents. The procedure was well tolerated, even after 4 consecutive hemoperfusions. Changes in body wt occurred, but no significant difference was noticed between animals subjected to 4 consecutive hemoperfusions and those perfused through empty columns. Organ wt of liver and spleen were comparable to control values, but kidney wt increased after hemoperfusion over activated charcoal, but not in control animals. A progressive rise in leukocyte count was found after successive hemoperfusions, but levels returned to normal 21 days after their initial operative procedure. Platelet counts fell after charcoal hemoperfusion, but returned to within normal levels before the next perfusion.