What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine how chemical- and tonicity-induced changes in erythrocyte shape, specifically stomatocytosis and echinocytosis, influence suspension viscosity and aggregation.

January 1, 1992European Journal of Clinical Investigation

The influence of erythrocyte shape on suspension viscosities

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Authors

WRWalter H. ReinhartKantonsspital Graubünden MSM. SINGH‐MARCHETTIUniversity of Bern PSP W StraubDeutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)

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Implication

In vitro study demonstrates that discocyte shape minimizes suspension viscosity compared to echinocytes, indicating that normal red blood cell morphology optimizes oxygen transport.

Key Points

To determine how chemical- and tonicity-induced changes in erythrocyte shape, specifically stomatocytosis and echinocytosis, influence suspension viscosity and aggregation.
Induced stomatocytosis using chlorpromazine (0–0.64 mmol l⁻¹) and echinocytosis using salicylate (0–120 mmol l⁻¹) or 2,4-dinitrophenol (0–8 mmol l⁻¹).
Calculated morphological indices and measured suspension viscosity under non-aggregating conditions and aggregating conditions (4 g dl⁻¹ dextran 70, shear rate 0.1 s⁻¹).
Assessed viscosity across varying medium tonicities, including hypotonic, isotonic, and hypertonic environments at constant cell volume/number.
Echinocytosis increased suspension viscosity in aggregation-free solutions, which fully normalized upon retransforming echinocytes into discocytes.
Under aggregating conditions with dextran at low shear rate (0.1 s⁻¹), low-grade echinocytosis produced the highest viscosity, whereas higher-grade echinocytosis and hypotonic sphering impaired aggregation and reduced viscosity.
Discocytes and isotonic-to-hypertonic suspensions maintained the lowest viscosity profiles, providing superior conditions for oxygen transport efficiency.

Cite This Study

Reinhart et al. (1992) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a9ee580e84d8d947cb7d3cb https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.1992.tb01933.x

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Implication

In vitro study demonstrates that discocyte shape minimizes suspension viscosity compared to echinocytes, indicating that normal red blood cell morphology optimizes oxygen transport.

The influence of erythrocyte shape on suspension viscosities

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

The influence of erythrocyte shape on suspension viscosities

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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