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The American journal of physiology1979; 236(5); H725-H730; doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.1979.236.5.H725

Variability in erythrocyte deformability among various mammals.

Abstract: Deformability is an important aspect of erythrocyte physiology and has been extensively studied using human red cells. We have studied erythrocytes from 25 different animals using a viscometric technique. Erythrocyte diameters ranged from 3.3 microns in the goat to 11.4 microns for the elephant seal. Erythrocytes from most species deformed readily when a fluid shear stress was applied. A deformability index of the stressed cell defined as (length - width)/(length + width) correlated with cell size. The erythrocytes of four animals (pygmy goat, goat, Batanga horse, and miniature horse) deformed less than most species. Camel and llama erythrocytes, which were ellipsoidal, did not deform but oriented in the stress field.
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Publication Date: 1979-05-01 PubMed ID: 443394DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.1979.236.5.H725Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • P.H.S.

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the deformability of red blood cells (erythrocytes) across 25 different animal species, revealing a connection between the size of the cell and its ability to change shape, with certain species showing unique deformability characteristics.

Understanding Erythrocyte Deformability

Erythrocyte deformability refers to the ability of red blood cells to change shape. It’s an important feature of these cells, enabling them to squeeze through the narrowest blood vessels to supply oxygen to the body’s cells. This research broadens the knowledge on this topic, which was mostly focused on human cells, by studying erythrocytes from 25 different animals.

  • The team used a viscometric technique, a method that measures viscosity or resistance to flow in a fluid, to examine how each species’ erythrocytes responded under fluid shear stress – a form of stress that occurs when fluid flows over a stationary object.
  • The sizes of the erythrocytes studied varied greatly, ranging from 3.3 microns in the goat to 11.4 microns for the elephant seal.

Results and Findings

The results provided insights into the variability of red blood cell deformability across various species and how it correlated with cell size.

  • Most species’ erythrocytes deformed easily under fluid shear stress. When they examined this further, they found a positive correlation between size (diameter) of the cell and its deformability.
  • However, the erythrocytes of four animal species (pygmy goat, goat, Batanga horse, and miniature horse) showed less deformability than most of the other species studied.
  • The erythrocytes of camels and llamas, which were already ellipsoidal (oval-like) in shape, behaved differently. Instead of deforming under shear stress, they oriented themselves in the direction of the stress field.

Implications and Future Directions

The wide-ranging responses to shear stress across different species underline the importance of considering specific physiological adaptations when studying erythrocyte behavior. The results provide a deeper understanding of red cell physiology which could be leveraged for therapeutic uses in human and veterinary medicine. Further research into the molecular and structural factors affecting deformability could explain the unique behaviors of some species’ cells and refine our understanding of erythrocyte physiology.

Cite This Article

APA
Smith JE, Mohandas N, Shohet SB. (1979). Variability in erythrocyte deformability among various mammals. Am J Physiol, 236(5), H725-H730. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.1979.236.5.H725

Publication

The American journal of physiology
ISSN: 0002-9513
NlmUniqueID: 0370511
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 236
Issue: 5
Pages: H725-H730

Researcher Affiliations

Smith, J E
    Mohandas, N
      Shohet, S B

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Camelids, New World / blood
        • Camelus / blood
        • Erythrocytes / cytology
        • Erythrocytes / physiology
        • Goats / blood
        • Horses / blood
        • Humans
        • Reference Values
        • Seals, Earless / blood
        • Species Specificity

        Citations

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