Abstract
The mode of coming together in doublets of human red cells lying on a coverslip was observed. There were two mechanisms: firstly. two single cells contact and then one slides over the other, with a maximum velocity near half-overlap; secondly, two cells in contact “crest” upwards at the junction, the cells bending, to achieve apposition. The sliding mode occurs for cells from normal blood. The cresting mode occurs for cells from blood having a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate. and occurs for cells suspended in Ringer solution containing polyvinylpyrrolidone at greater than 4 g/l. The effect of the amount of a rouleau-inducing substance was studied using 360,000 molecular weight PVP from 1 to 7 g/l. of Ringer solution. An increase in concentration of PVP results in an increase in rate of doublet formation, and a change of mode from sliding to cresting at a concentration of 4 g/l.
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