Rheological study of erythrocyte sub-populations prepared by density-gradient fractionation

Abstract

Intracellular dehydration is a feature of older erythrocytes which thus have a higher mean cell haemoglobin concentration and can be separated by density-gradient fractionation. Studies of fractionated erythrocytes have demonstrated rheological and haematological heterogeneity with the denser cells showing multiple rheological abnormalities. Sickle cells are particularly heterogeneous with the denser sub-populations having a dominant rheological effect. Rheological methods should take this heterogeneity into account by analysis of erythrocyte sub-populations after density-gradient fractionation or by using instruments that measure the rheology of single cells. Such techniques are of particular importance in studies of the pathogenesis and treatment of sickle-cell disease.