Abstract
The influence of RBC mechanical properties and aggregation on the viscoelasticity of whole blood was studied in an oscillating capillary flow. Cell membrane mechanical properties were altered by age separation into old and young RBC, by heat treatment and glutardialdehyd fixation of RBC. The altered RBC were resuspended in autologous plasma. Aggregation was increased adding different amounts of Dextran 110. The results indicate, that changes of RBC membrane elasticity mainly influence the elastic component while changes of membrane viscosity influence the viscous component of complex viscosity. Membrane mechanical effects can be discriminated from enhanced aggregation.
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