The influence of red cell size relative to pore size on filtration through nuclepore filters.
A simple model relating pore passage time (PPT) to the degree of strain of the membrane of a red cell of diameter DC on passing through a pore (diameter Dp) has been developed. The model was tested for a range of mammalian and fish species for which some data was available for more than one pore size. The strain (epsilon) is estimated as (Dc-Dp)/Dc. For small epsilon, less than approximately 0.45, PPT was small but rose rapidly for higher values. The analysis provides a simple basis for choosing appropriate pore sizes, and consequently strain, for comparing mechanical properties of erythrocytes of different species.
Schroter
R C
RC
Centre for Biological and Medical Systems, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, England.
Hughes
G M
GM
D000818:Animals; D048429:Cell Size; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008322:Mammals / Q000097:blood; D008954:Models, Biological; D013045:Species Specificity