Erythrocyte filterability in alloxan-diabetes and in experimental galactosemia

Abstract

Filterability of whole blood and of washed erythrocytes has been studied in experimentally diabetic dogs, experimentally galactosemic dogs, and normal dogs. Whole blood from diabetic dogs kept in poor glycemic control was less filterable than that from normal dogs or dogs in good glycemic control. Whole blood from galactosemic dogs, in contrast, showed no abnormality in filterability, despite significantly higher erythrocyte polyol concentrations than found in diabetic or normal dogs. Washed erythrocytes were not abnormally filterable in any of the groups. Since experimentally galactosemic dogs, like diabetic dogs, develop a retinopathy that is morphologically comparable to that of diabetic patients, these studies suggest that the retinopathy can develop in the absence of abnormal in vitro blood filterability.