Abstract
Experiments were carried out to determine flow properties of oxygenated normal and abnormal blood (HbAA, HbAS, HbSS, HbSC, HbAC, HbCC and rat) using isolated artificially perfused rat mesoappendix microvasculature. Changes in arterial perfusion pressure (Ppa) and venous outflow (Fv) were recorded after the infusion of blood, and peripheral resistance unit (PRU) was calculated. In a series of experiments, pressure-flow recovery time (Tpf) was determined, and microphotography was done in selected experiments. Viscometry was carried out at a shear rate of 230 sec−1 In the perfused mesoappendix, HbSS and HbSC blood resulted in higher PRU as well as increase in Tpf when compared to those for HbCC blood, though the latter was more viscous. Evidence is presented regarding the trapping and fragmentation of the irreversibly sickled cells (ISC) in microvasculature. The possible role of certain cellular factors favoring the apparently normal microcirculatory behavior of HbCC blood is analyzed.
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