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Published on: February 19, 2017
Osmolality dependence of erythrocyte sedimentation and aggregation in a strong magnetic field
1Department of Precision Engineering, Chiba Institute of Technology, Tsudanuma, Narashino-shi, Chiba, Japan. iino@pf.it-chiba.ac.jp
Abstract:
In order to specify the major determinant of the magnetic enhancement of erythrocyte sedimentation observed previously, the dependence of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) on osmolality was measured under a strong magnetic field. Even at hypotonic osmolality, an increase in ESR due to aggregation was observed in plasma solution as compared with that without aggregation in saline solution. However, the magnetic field did not enhance ESR at hypotonic osmolality, when the cell shape was an isotropic sphere (spherocyte). Thus, we narrowed our search to a mechanism that would explain the enhanced ESR found specifically in anisotropic erythrocytes. It was concluded that the major determinant can only work for anisotropic erythrocytes and is a magnetic field-induced increase in an intermembrane adhesive area due to magnetic orientation of anisotropic erythrocytes.
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