Measurement of erythrocyte orientation in flow by spin labeling

Abstract

We present two phenomenological models describing the flowing erythrocyte orientation rate. The first concerns the onset of a stable orientation in a very dilute erythrocyte suspension. It is based on a simple formula for erythrocyte elongation as a function of shear stress, and we assume that beyond a threshold of elongation, erythrocytes take on a stable orientation, while below this threshold, they have a flipping motion. We extend this model to high hematocrit values assuming that the effect of red cell collisions imposes a random moment to each erythrocyte, shifting it from its stable orientation. We obtain an approximate expression for erythrocyte orientation rate as a function of shear rate and then we compare these results to our experimental data in part III of this series.