Erythrocytes sedimentation profiles under gravitational field as determined by He-Ne laser. VII. Influence of dextrans, albumin and saline on cellular aggregation and sedimentation rate

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Singh, Megha | Joseph, K. Paul

Affiliations: Biomedical Engineering Division, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras - 600 036, India

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor J.C. Healy

Abstract: The erythrocytes sedimentation profiles (ESP) of normal blood and of blood mixed with saline, albumin (7%), and various molecular weight dextrans of different concentrations, at various height and widths of the sample holder are determined. These observations show that the sedimentation characteristics of the erythrocytes depend on the influence of these substitutes on the plasma and cellular constituents. The normalised aggregation and the sedimentation rate, as determined from these profiles, show that the dextran 40 and dextran 70 retard the erythrocytes sedimentation, for high molecular weight it is similar to that of normal blood and is the maximum for saline. This change for high molecular weight dextrans could be attributed to the enhanced aggregation tendency of erythrocytes and for saline to the enhanced sedimentation due to decrease in the viscosity and density of suspending medium. The influence of the various concentrations of dextrans on these parameters has been determined.

Keywords: Erythrocytes sedimentation profiles, transmitted laser intensity, dextrans, aggregation, sedimentation rate

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1987-24106

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 24, no. 1, pp. 53-61, 1987