title: Influence of Pre-Storage Irradiation on the Oxidative Stress Markers, Membrane Integrity, Size and Shape of the Cold Stored Red Blood Cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To investigate the extent of oxidative damage and changes in morphology of manually isolated red blood cells (RBCs) from whole blood, cold stored (up to 20 days) in polystyrene tubes and subjected to pre-storage irradiation (50 Gy) and to compare the properties of SAGM-preserved RBCs stored under experimental conditions (polystyrene tubes) with RBCs from standard blood bag storage.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentage of hemolysis as well as the extracellular activity of LDH, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, reduced glutathione (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were measured. Changes in the topology of RBC membrane, shape, and size were evaluated by flow cytometry and judged against microscopy images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Irradiation caused significant LDH release as well as increased hemolysis and lipid peroxidation, GSH depletion, and reduction of TAC. Prolonged storage of irradiated RBCs resulted in phosphatidylserine exposure on the cell surface. By day 20, approximately 60% of RBCs displayed non-discoid shape. We did not notice significant differences in percentage of altered cells and cell volume between RBCs exposed to irradiation and those not exposed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Irradiation of RBC transfusion units with a dose of 50 Gy should be avoided. For research purposes such as studying the role of antioxidants, storage of small volumes of RBCs derived from the same donor would be more useful, cheaper, and blood-saving.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antosik
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Czubak
authors.affiliation: Department of Thermobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Arkadiusz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajek
authors.affiliation: Department of Thermobiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Glowacki
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Chemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Kamila
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Borowczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Halina Malgorzata
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zbikowska
keywords: Flow cytometry; Gamma irradiation; Oxygen-free radical; Red blood cell; Storage