Aggregation of red cells with membrane altered by heat treatment

Abstract

Dextran was used to induce rouleau formation of heat-treated (48.80C) and normal human red cells. The microscopic aggregation index and the shear stress required for rouleau dissociation in a parallel-plate flow channel were not affected by heat treatment. The electrophoretic mobility and surface dextran adsorption of heat-treated cells were also normal. These findings indicate that the heat induced alterations in the endoface membrane proteins do not have a significant influence on red cell aggregation by dextrans which bridge the exoface membranes of adjacent cells. The reduced membrane deformability of the heat-treated red cells leads to a lesser change in the curvature of the end cells in the rouleaux in response to a given alteration in membrane strain energy due to cell aggregation.