title: The physiologic role of erythrocytes in oxygen delivery and implications for blood storage.
abstract: Erythrocytes are not just oxygen delivery devices but play an active metabolic role in modulating microvascular blood flow. Hemoglobin and red blood cell morphology change as local oxygen levels fall, eliciting the release of adenosine triphosphate and nitric oxide to initiate local vasodilation. Aged erythrocytes undergo physical and functional changes such that some of the red cell's most physiologically helpful attributes are diminished. This article reviews the functional anatomy and applied physiology of the erythrocyte and the microcirculation with an emphasis on how erythrocytes modulate microvascular function. The effects of cell storage on the metabolic functions of the erythrocyte are also briefly discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Acute and Continuing Care, School of Nursing, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6901 Bertner Street, SON 682, Houston, TX 77030, USA. Electronic address: Penelope.S.Benedik@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Penelope S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Benedik
authors.affiliation: Nursing Research and Evidence-Based Practice, Houston Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin, MGJ 11-017, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Shannan K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hamlin
mesh_terms: D001692:Biological Transport; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008833:Microcirculation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Hemoglobin; Nitric oxide; Oxygen transport; Red blood cell; Storage lesion