Previous studies have shown an increase in survival when a minute amount of drag-reducing polymers were added to a resuscitation fluid. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the effect of adding a minute amount of the drag-reducing polymer polyethylene glycol to a resuscitation fluid, on the microcirculation of skeletal muscle during a volume-controlled hemorrhage model. The spinotrapezius muscle in twelve male Sprague Dawley rats was exteriorized for microvascular measurements of the arterioles. The diameters of the three levels of arterioles, interstitial fluid PO2, and RBC velocity in the feed arteriole were measured. Flow in the feed arteriole was calculated using the diameter and RBC velocity. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, arterial blood gases, arterial blood electrolytes, and arterial blood metabolites were measured. No significant physiological differences were observed between the DRP group and the Control group.

Further understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in traumatic injury, and how they are modulated during drug interaction, can facilitate novel treatment strategies for future trauma patients. We hypothesize that the pharmacological agent, Androstenetriol (AET), up regulates host immune response by modulating the continued expression of mediators, including cytokines. In a double-blinded experiment, rats were hemorrhaged, driven by volume or pressure conditions, then resuscitated with fluids and packed red blood cells following a subcutaneous injection of either vehicle or drug. Blood was collected at various time points and cytokine levels were determined by analyses with both multiplex and conventional ELISA assays. Both MCP-1 and GRO/KC increase in surviving animals; trauma increases IL-lα levels in rat plasma, whereas hemorrhage decreases IL-lα over time; IL-6 plasma levels measured 6 hours after hemorrhage may correlate with mortality; AET may act by mechanisms to modify specific TH1 cytokines (INF-y) to promote survival.