Erythrocyte deformation in shear flow: influences of internal viscosity, membrane stiffness, and hematocrit

The effect of shear force (depending on shear rate and viscosity of extracellular medium) and hematocrit of RBC suspension on RBC deformation was studied quantitatively using a cone-plate rheoscope with various kinds of cells, ie, partially hemolyzed (PH) cells, density-fractionated intact cells, and diamide-treated cells. The deformation index (DI) of ellipsoidally deformed cells was shown to be a function of beta gamma eta ex(eta ex/eta in)alpha, where gamma eta ex is applied shear stress, eta ex and eta in are external and internal viscosities, respectively, and alpha and beta are adjustable parameters related to the membrane viscoelastic properties. The increase of suspension viscosity at higher hematocrits (Hts) generally enhanced the ellipsoidal deformation of cells, in the same manner as increasing the suspending medium viscosity of a diluted cell suspension. The suppressing effect on cell deformation appeared above a certain Ht. When intact cells were mixed with glutaraldehyde-treated, hardened cells, the ellipsoidal deformation of intact cells was disturbed. The suppression of deformation probably occurred through disturbance of laminar flow-lines around intact cells.