Abstract
The influence of cellular morphology on the rheological behaviour of human red blood cells (RBC) and RBC suspensions has been examined for both fresh and ATP-depleted erythrocytes. Macrorheological measurements were made using a cone-plate viscometer and microrheological measurements included cell deformation by high-speed centrifugation and direct microscopic observation using a counter-rotating rheoscope. Evaluation of the experimental observations indicates the importance of RBC shape as a determinant of RBC deformability, such that either echinocytic or stomatocytic shape alterations result in increased deformability. Thus, cellular morphology, in addition to S/V ratio, membrane and cytoplasmic material properties must be considered in assessing the response of the cell to deforming forces. It is to be noted, however, that these morphology effects are shear-stress dependent and may escape detection in systems in which high stress levels are employed, e.g. micropore filtration using large pressure gradients.
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