Abstract
Haematological, immunological and endocrinological aspects of blood transfusions with either freshly collected or preserved donor blood were investigated in chronically cannulated unrestrained rats. Three anticoagulant preservatives were tested: citrate, citrate-dextrose and citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine (CPDA-1). Prolactin was used as an indicator of stress in endocrine studies. The repeated collection of 4 ml blood at 2-week intervals did not affect normal blood composition. Whole blood of rats could be stored in citrate, citrate-dextrose or CPDA-1 for 8, 22 or 35 days, respectively. Blood transfusions with fresh or preserved donor blood of F1 (R × U) rats did not affect normal blood composition nor did it induce immunological responses in F1 rats. Frequent blood sampling for several hours at highest rates of 1 sample/min did not affect prolactin secretion when blood volume reduction was replaced by blood transfusions with fresh donor blood. However, compensation with preserved blood affected prolactin secretion significantly. Blood transfusions did not affect health, behaviour, cyclicity or pseudopregnancy. The application of blood transfusion in chronically cannulated rats appeared to be quite simple. Its advantages are the possibility of following individual secretion patterns of blood-bound substances, the repeated use of animals and the reduction of the number of animals.