Abstract
Summary: The deformability of neonatal and adult red blood cells (RBC) was studied using both unseparated and density (i.e., age) fractionated RBC. Blood samples were obtained from 10 normal newborn infants (placental blood) and 10 adults. Deformability was measured by direct microscopic observation of RBC subjected to shear stresses of 2.5–500 dynes/cm2 using a counter-rotating Rheoscope. There was no significant difference in deformability between unseparated neonatal and adult RBC at any shear stress. The 3% least dense (“youngest”) RBC showed significantly decreased hemoglobin concentrations (MCHC), increased volumes (MCV) and elevated deformability at any shear stress when compared to the 3% most dense (“oldest”) cells, with the values for the unseparated RBC lying between these two extremes. The least dense neonatal RBC had a significantly lower MCHC and higher deformability than the least dense adult cells; however, the most dense neonatal RBC had lost more volume than the adult cells (33 versus 17%), had a higher MCHC, and were less deformable than the most dense adult cells. This indicates that the accelerated decrease in deformability of aging neonatal RBC is related to the more pronounced increase in MCHC, which is the principal determinant of the internal viscosity of the RBC
Speculation: The shortened survival time of neonatal red blood cells (RBC) is probably the consequence of accelerated aging of neonatal RBC. Differences in biochemical composition and a decrease in some RBC activities, which are important for the maintenance of membrain integrity, cell volume, and deformability might be responsible for the faster loss of membrane fragments and deformability of neonatal RBC when compared to adult cells. These alterations presumably impede the ability of aging neonatal RBC to pass the narrow splenic slits, thus promoting their eventual destruction by macrophages.
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Linderkamp, O., Wu, P. & Meiselman, H. Deformability of Density Separated Red Blood Cells in Normal Newborn Infants and Adults. Pediatr Res 16, 964–968 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198211000-00013
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198211000-00013
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