Cardiovascular and hemodynamic effect of polyethylene glycol in Rats

BACKGROUND: Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) is a solvent and used in a wide range of biomedical applications. Many fatty-acid-based molecules cannot be administered without a solvent in vivo. PEG can be used to dissolve compounds to make them water soluble. However, the effect of PEG on the cardiovascular system has not been studied. In this study, we evaluated the effect of PEG on the cardiovascular system in rat models. METHODS: Twenty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250-300 g were used in this study. The control group (10 rats) were injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 ml of 5% D/W in normal saline and the second group (10 rats) with PEG 400, 2 ml/kg ip, twice a day for 1 week. After 4 weeks, the rats underwent general anesthesia and a 1.4 French ultra miniature pressure volume catheter (Millar catheter) was placed in the left ventricle via the right carotid artery to measure comprehensive hemodynamic data. The data were analyzed with PVAN pressure-volume analysis software. RESULTS: All the systolic and diastolic parameters were similar in both groups except for the effective arterial elastance (Ea), which was decreased in the PEG group. There were no significant differences in maximum (dp/dt(max)) and minimum (dp/dt(min)) development of pressure stroke work, cardiac output, ejection fraction, end systolic volume (Ves), and end diastolic volume. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated that PEG, as a solvent, decreases Ea in rats in comparison to a placebo. Therefore, PEG as a solvent should be used cautiously in the cardiovascular research.