Hemorheological consequences of hind limb ischemia-reperfusion differs in normal and gonadectomized male and female rats

It is known that hemorheological parameters show gender differences that might be altered by gonadectomy (GoE). Since micro-rheological parameters (erythrocyte deformability and aggregation) sensitively change during and after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), the question arises whether the hemorheological effects of I/R may show gender differences and further changes might be expected when GoE and I/R are additive. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups: Control males and females, I/R males and females with 1-hour hind limb ischemia, GoE + I//R males and females when 3 months after bilateral gonadectomy the I/R was induced. Before and just after ischemia, and on the 1st-3rd-5th-7th postoperative days blood samples were taken (lateral tail vein, 0.3-0.5 mL) for analyzing hematological parameters, erythrocyte's deformability (slit-flow ektacytometer) and aggregation (light-transmission aggregometer). Leukocyte and platelet counts raised markedly in gonadectomized animals during the investigated days. Hemorheological changes of I/R showed gender differences: significant impairment of erythrocyte deformability was found on the 1st-3rd postoperative days, expressed mostly in females. In gonadectomized females the postischemic deformability values were impaired. Erythrocyte aggregation index significantly raised by the 1st postoperative day, dominantly in males. It is suggested that gonadectomy may act as an additional rheological 'risk factor' related to blood micro-rheological parameters in ischemia-reperfusion.