Fig 1. Experimental protocol.

Following an equilibration period, baseline (BL) measurements of all parameters were recorded, and subsequent blood was rapidly withdrawn until a mean arterial pressure of approximately 50±5 mm Hg was reached and maintained for another 60 minutes (hypovolemia period). All measurements were then recorded (post-hemorrhage, PH, time = 0 min), and the animals were separately resuscitated with HSD, LR or HSD+LR over 60 minutes (Resuscitation1, R1, time = 60 min). Then, during the in-hospital resuscitation phase, LR were started as a transfusion for all animals until the MAP reached 85% of the baseline value (Resuscitation 2, R2, time = 120 min). After a two-hour observation period (Resuscitation 3, R3, time = 240 min), all animals received blood transfusions (70% of their blood loss) so that they would survive for three days of observation. Then, the dogs were sacrificed with an IV bolus injection of pentobarbital, and their tissues including their kidneys, lungs, liver and intestines were obtained for pathological analysis.