title: Morphological determinants of red cell deformability.
abstract: The influence of cellular morphology on the rheological behaviour of human red blood cells (RBC) and RBC suspensions has been examined for both fresh and ATP-depleted erythrocytes. Macrorheological measurements were made using a cone-plate viscometer and microrheological measurements included cell deformation by high-speed centrifugation and direct microscopic observation using a counter-rotating rheoscope. Evaluation of the experimental observations indicates the importance of RBC shape as a determinant of RBC deformability, such that either echinocytic or stomatocytic shape alterations result in increased deformability. Thus, cellular morphology, in addition to S/V ratio, membrane and cytoplasmic material properties must be considered in assessing the response of the cell to deforming forces. It is to be noted, however, that these morphology effects are shear-stress dependent and may escape detection in systems in which high stress levels are employed, e.g. micropore filtration using large pressure gradients.
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000172:deficiency; D002021:Buffers; D002746:Chlorpromazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004913:Erythrocytes, Abnormal / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D012212:Rheology; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002021:Buffers; D004136:Dinitrobenzenes; D014301:Trinitrobenzenes; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D002746:Chlorpromazine