Erythrocyte Survival in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

Summary

Disappearance curves of autologous, isologous, and homologous guinea pig erythrocytes labeled with Cr⁵¹ were compared. The T1/2 for autologous and isologous cells was about 16 days, and 5% of the activity remained on day 66. Calculations from a model used to describe survival curves indicated that disappearance rates of autologous and isologous erythrocytes were not significantly different. From the data, a value of 80–90 days was suggested as an estimate of life span for guinea pig erythrocytes. The T1/2 for homologous erythrocytes was 12 days, and 5% of the activity remained on day 46. Although the survival curve did not indicate immune clearance characteristics, homologous erythrocytes disappeared at a moderately but significantly faster rate than normal.