Burn-induced red blood cell deformability and shape changes are modulated by sex hormones.
BACKGROUND
Burns are known to cause changes in red blood cell (RBC) deformability and resting shape. However, it is unclear whether sex and sex hormones can influence the severity of these alterations.


METHODS
Red blood cell deformability and shape were examined in proestrus and diestrus female rats, ovariectomized female rats, as well as castrated and non-castrated male rats (6 animals per group) subjected to scald burn. Red blood cell deformability was measured by laser ektacytometry and erythrocyte shape was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Burn-induced RBC deformability changes (decrease in elongation index) and shape alterations (increase in the percentage of reversibly and irreversibly changed cells) were less severe in proestrus females than in diestrus females or males. Ovariectomized rats demonstrated more severe RBC changes than non-ovariectomized ones. The degree of RBC damage was the same in castrated and non-castrated males.


CONCLUSIONS
Removal of female sex hormones increases the severity of burn-induced RBC, indicating that female sex hormones protect against burn-induced RBC dysfunction. In contrast, male sex hormones do not appear to modulate burn-induced RBC dysfunction.
Zaets
Sergey B
SB
Department of Surgery, MSB G-507, UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School, 185 South Orange Avenue, Newark, NJ 07107, USA. zaets001@hotmail.com
Berezina
Tamara L
TL
Xu
Da-Zhong
DZ
Lu
Qi
Q
Ricci
John
J
Cohen
David
D
Ananthakrishnan
Preya
P
Deitch
Edwin A
EA
Machiedo
George W
GW
D000818:Animals; D002056:Burns / Q000097:blood*; D002369:Castration; D004031:Diestrus; D004907:Erythrocyte Deformability; D004967:Estrogens / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011359:Proestrus; D051381:Rats
D004967:Estrogens