title: Erythrocyte rheology.
abstract: Two main subjects of erythrocyte rheology, deformation and aggregation, are discussed in detail, on the basis of biochemical structure. The close relationship between the life span (or cell aging) and the rheology of individual erythrocytes is also briefly described. A currently important problem is emphasized, that is, the molecular aspect of the dynamic cytoskeletal structure and the mechanism of its regulation. This concerns not only the rheological function and the survival of circulating erythrocytes, but also the pathophysiology of abnormal erythrocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Osaka University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kon
mesh_terms: D001809:Blood Viscosity; D004903:Erythrocyte Aggregation; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D012212:Rheology