OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on erythrocytes during canine cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODSTwelve adult healthy dogs undergoing CPB were randomly divided into the control group (n = 6) and the PDTC group (n = 6). In the PDTC group, PDTC 30 mg/kg was administered intravenously before CPB. Dogs in the control group was intravenously administering with normal saline. The levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-8, malondiadehyde (MDA), free hemoglobin (F-HB) in plasma, erythrocyte adenosine triphosphate (E-ATP), and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (E-SOD) were determined before CPB, 30 and 60 minutes after aortic cross-clamping (AC), and 30 and 60 minutes after declamping (DC).

RESULTSIn the control group, plasma levels of IL-1beta and IL-8 significantly increased after CPB (P < 0.01). In the PDTC group, plasma levels of IL-1beta and IL-8 significantly increased after CPB (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Plasma levels of MDA and F-HB significantly increased (P < 0.01) and the E-ATP level and E-SOD activity significantly decreased after CPB (P < 0.01) in both two groups. The E-ATP level and E-SOD activity in the PDTC group at 30 and 60 minutes after AC and 30 and 60 minutes after DC were significantly higher than those in control group (P < 0.01). However, the levels of IL-1beta, IL-8, MDA, and F-HB at 30 and 60 minutes after AC and 30 and 60 minutes after DC were significantly lower in the PDTC group than those in control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPDTC can protect erythrocytes by alleviating lipid peroxidation and inflammatory response during CPB.