The Effects of ATP Depletion on the Response of Erythrocytes to Shear Stress

  • K. Tadano
  • J. D. Hellums
  • E. C. Lynch
  • E. J. Peck
  • C. P. Alfrey

Abstract

Erythrocyte deformability is strongly dependent on environmental variables which influence intracellular ATP concentration. The present study was undertaken to relate these environmental variables to the susceptibility of erythrocytes to hemolysis due to exposure to uniform shear fields in a special-purpose rotational viscometer.

The effects of shear stress on red cells were studied using defibrinated blood. Results with defíbrinated blood were compared with those of defíbrinated blood specimens containing one of the following additives: ACD anticoagulant, d-glucose in the same concentration as the glucose in ACD, citrate in the same concentration as the citrate in ACD, and xylitol in the same concentration as the glucose in ACD. Defíbrinated samples with no additive and with xylitol added gave similar levels of hemolysis. Addition of the other components yielded slightly reduced levels of hemolysis. Incubation of defíbrinated samples for 24 h at 37° C resulted in ATP depletion accompanied by large increases in the hemolysis resulting from exposure to shear stress. The levels of hemolysis for the specimens incubated for 24 h were in increasing order: glucose, ACD, citrate, xylitol, and defibrinated with no additive. This order of the level of shear-induced hemolysis is inversely related to intracellular ATP concentration except for the specimens with citrate added. They yielded significantly less hemolysis than defibrinated blood although the intracellular ATP level was the same. Depleted ATP levels and the hemolytic response to stress were both partially reversed by addition of adenosine.

Key Words

Erythrocytes Hemolysis Rheology Shear ATP 

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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1978

Authors and Affiliations

  • K. Tadano
    • 1
  • J. D. Hellums
    • 1
  • E. C. Lynch
    • 2
  • E. J. Peck
    • 2
  • C. P. Alfrey
    • 2
  1. 1.Biomedical Engineering LaboratoryRice University HoustonUSA
  2. 2.Departments of Medicine (ECL and CPA) and Cell Biology (EJP)Baylor College of MedicineHoustonUSA

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