Continuous Blood Exchange in Rats: A Protocol for Experimental Investigation

Abstract Blood exchange therapy, specifically whole blood exchange (WBE), is increasingly being utilized in clinical settings to effectively treat a range of diseases. Consequently, there is an urgent requirement to establish convenient and clinically applicable animal models that can facilitate the exploration of blood exchange therapy mechanisms. Our study conducted continuous whole blood exchange (WBE) in rats through femoral and tail vein catheterization using dual-directional syringe pumps. To demonstrate the applicability of continuous whole blood exchange, drug-induced hemolytic anemia (DIHA) was induced through phenylhydrazine hydrochloride injection. Notability, the rats of WBE treatment group survived all and recovered within the subsequent period. After the implementation of continuous whole blood exchange therapy day (Day 1), the treatment group exhibited a statistically significant increase in red blood cells (P = 0.0343) and hemoglobin levels (P = 0.0090). The rats in the WBE treatment group exhibited a faster recovery rate compared to the model group, indicating the successful establishment of a continuous blood exchange protocol. This experimental approach demonstrates not just promising efficacy in the treatment of DIHA and offers a valuable tool for investigating the underlying mechanisms of blood exchange. Furthermore, it has a great potential to the advancement of biomedical research such as drug delivery exploration.