Premium
The effect of cell hydration on the deformability of normal and sickle erythrocytes
Author(s) -
Gulley Margaret L.,
Ross Dennis W.,
Feo Claude,
Orringer Eugene P.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
american journal of hematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.456
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1096-8652
pISSN - 0361-8609
DOI - 10.1002/ajh.2830130403
Subject(s) - erythrocyte deformability , chemistry , red blood cell , erythrocyte fragility , dehydration , biophysics , echinocyte , red cell , rheology , population , cell , valinomycin , biochemistry , membrane , immunology , materials science , medicine , biology , hemolysis , environmental health , composite material
The deformability of the erythrocyte (RBC) is greatly influenced by its state of hydration. The purpose of this investigation is to quantitate this relationship by measuring the deformability of an RBC population over a broad range of cell water content. By manipulation of the ion content of the RBC, we performed all of the experiments in media which were isotonic with plasma. To raise ion and water content, RBC were incubated in a Li 2 CO 3 medium. To lower cell ion and water content, RBC were exposed to the K ionophore, valinomycin. The range of cell water content achieved during the entire experiment was 900–3200 g/kg cell solid (normal in vivo cell water content being 1800–1950 g/kg cell solid). By using the Ektacytometer, an automated cylindrical viscometer, we were able to measure deformability of the RBC sampled at various points along this range of cell water content. We found that optimal rheologic behavior was exhibited by normal RBC when their water content was in the normal range. A rise or a fall in cell hydration resulted in a decrease in cell deformability. By contrast, the deformability of freshly drawn, well‐oxygenated sickle RBC was well below that found for normal RBC. Upon volume expansion, however, the deformability of these sickle RBC improved markedly. This observation suggests that sickle RBC are suboptimally hydrated and that their abnormal rheology is at least in part a consequence of cell dehydration.