The systemic hemodynamic effects of different microsphere suspension agents were evaluated in 22 Sprague-Dawley male rats. Rats were divided into three groups, and three different solutions (distilled water; n = 7, 10% dextran; n = 8, and 70% glucose; n = 7) were injected through the left atrium respectively. 0.2 ml of each solution was injected repeatedly until significant hemodynamic changes developed. During four sequential injections, distilled water had no significant effects on cardiac output, mean arterial pressure, and heart rate. However, the 10% dextran (mol wt 70,000) solution produced significant decreases in both cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure during and after the third injection. The 70% glucose solution also decreased, cardiac output significantly during the third injection. Although microspheres itself must cause some hemodynamic changes, our results indicated that the hemodynamic disturbances observed during a large dose injection of microspheres might have been at least in part due to the use of high-density suspending solutions. The doses of radioactive microsphere solution in many previous rat studies were usually less than 0.6 ml. However, in the case of large dose injection of microspheres, these results indicate that the suspending solutions can affect hemodynamic parameters in various ways.