Abstract
A graded reduction of “deformability” of red blood cells (RBC's) of rats was obtained by treatment with the SH-oxidizing agent, diamide. Rigidified RBC's were injected into rats by isovolemic exchange against 60% of the native RBC's and RBC flow velocities in capillaries of rat mesentery measured.
At normal mean arterial pressure RBC flow velocity decreases by 29% in rats receiving cells rigidified with 0.5 mmol·l−1 diamide. Surprisingly a further rigidification of erythrocytes by 1.5 mmol·l−1 diamide results in a decrease of flow by only 15%. During hypotension RBC flow velocities dropped precipitously to 8±15% for the 0.5 nmol·l−1 and to 2±6% for the 1.5 mmol·l−1 diamide group compared to velocities during normotension. By microscopy we observed a stop of flow in many vessels.
This result outlines the importance of a normal red cell “deformability” for the maintenance of sufficient perfusion of the microcirculation, in particular at low blood pressure gradients.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Chien S (1971) Present state of blood rheology. In: Messmer K, Schmid-Schönbein H (eds) Hemodilution theoretical basis and chemical application. Int Symp Rottach-Egern. Karger, Basel, pp 1–45
Crandall ED, Critz AM, Osher AS, Keljo DJ, Forster RE (1978) Influence of pH on elastic deformability of the human erythrocyte membrane. Am J Physiol 235:269–278
Driessen GK, Heidtmann H, Schmid-Schönbein H (1979) Effect of hemodilution and hemoconcentration on red cell flow velocity in the capillaries of the rat mesentery. Pflügers Arch 380:1–6
Fischer TM, Haest CWM, Malotta H, Plasa G, Driessen GK, Schmid-Schönbein H (1978) Viscosity of concentrated suspensions of human erythrocytes (RBC) after graded decrease of RBC-deformability. Pflügers Arch 377:(Suppl) R 11–42
Fischer TM, Haest CWM, Stöhr M, Kamp D, Deuticke B (1978) Selective alteration of erythrocyte deformability by SH-reagents. Biochim Biophys Acta 510:270–282
Fitz-Gerald JM (1969) Implications of a theory of erythrocyte motion in narrow capillaries. J Appl Physiol 27:912–918
Haest CWM, Driessen GK, Kamp D, Heidtmann H, Fischer TM, Stöhr-Liesen M (1980) Is deformability a parameter for the rate of elimination of rat erythrocytes from the circulation? Pflügers Arch 388:69–73
Jay AWL, Rowland S, Skibo L (1972) The resistance to blood flow in capillaries. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 50:1007–1013
La Celle PL (1975) Pathologic erythrocytes in the capillary microcirculation. Blood Cells 1:269–284
Lipowski HH, Kovachek S, Zweifach BW (1978) The distribution of blood rheological parameters in the microvasculature of cat mesentery. Cir Res 43:738–749
Schmid-Schönbein H, Fischer T, Driessen GK, Rieger H (1979) Microcirculation. In: Hwang NHC, Gross DR, Patel DJ (eds) Quantitative cardiovascular studie. Clinical and research applications of engineering principals. University Press, Baltimore, pp 353–417
Sutera SP (1977) Red cell motion and deformation in the microcirculation. INSERM-Euromeck 92, Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Dynamics 71:211–242
Tompkins WR, Monti R, Intaglietta M (1974) Velocity measurements by self-tracking correlator. Instrum Rev Sci 45:647–649
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 109 C5)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Driessen, G.K., Haest, C.W.M., Heidtmann, H. et al. Effect of reduced red cell “deformability” on flow velocity in capillaries of rat mesentery. Pflugers Arch. 388, 75–78 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582631
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00582631