Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Erythropoiesis

Erythropoiesis

Red blood cells (RBCs) transport oxygen to all body tissues. These cells survive only for 120 days and then need to be replenished. Erythropoiesis is the process of RBC production. In healthy individuals, erythropoiesis ensures all tissues are amply supplied with oxygen. In addition, blood loss due to injury leads to a drop in the physiological oxygen level that will cause erythropoiesis. Any defect in erythropoiesis leads to several physiological disorders, including thalassemia, anemia, and...

Disorders of Erythrocytes

Disorders of Erythrocytes

Disorders of erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), include a range of conditions affecting their number, shape, or function.
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...

Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis

Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis

The cardiovascular system regulates the number of erythrocytes in the bloodstream to ensure optimal oxygen transport. It also prevents over-proliferation of these cells, which helps to maintain blood viscosity and flow rate.
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

Lifecycle of Erythrocytes

Erythrocytes, also known as red blood cells, constantly move through blood capillaries. As a result, they damage their plasma membrane due to the continuous friction. Typically, after 100 to 120 days, erythrocytes become rigid and fragile as they wear out. As they pass through small vessels in the spleen and liver, they can get trapped and break apart into fragments.
The resident phagocytic macrophages deal with these damaged cells by engulfing them and separating their globin and heme groups.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Influence of parenteral nutrition on blood rheology and platelet aggregation in vitro.

Biorheology·2014

Same author

Fatigue in multiple sclerosis is not due to sleep apnoea.

European journal of neurology·2013

Same author

Cocaine in high concentrations inhibits platelet aggregation in vitro.

Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation·2013

Same author

The passage of a hemodialysis filter affects hemorheology, red cell shape, and platelet aggregation.

Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation·2013

Same author

[Histoplasmosis - an unusual African souvenir].

Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift (1946)·2013

Same author

Cocaine induces a reversible stomatocytosis of red blood cells and increases blood viscosity.

Clinical hemorheology and microcirculation·2012

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Published on: January 10, 2025

Studies on metabolically depleted erythrocytes.

S A Reinhart¹, T Schulzki², P O Bonetti¹

¹Department of Internal Medicine, Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur, Switzerland.

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation

|February 2, 2013

Summary

Erythrocytes stored outside the body change shape and function, impacting blood viscosity. Albumin can partially reverse these erythrocyte changes, crucial for blood banking and transfusion medicine.

Keywords:

ATP Anticoagulant erythrocyte morphology viscosity

More Related Videos

Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Metabolism

Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Metabolism

Published on: November 9, 2019

Bioenergetics and the Oxidative Burst: Protocols for the Isolation and Evaluation of Human Leukocytes and Platelets

Bioenergetics and the Oxidative Burst: Protocols for the Isolation and Evaluation of Human Leukocytes and Platelets

Published on: March 27, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo

A Comprehensive Pipeline to Assess the Efficiency of Human Erythropoiesis In Vitro and Ex Vivo

Published on: January 10, 2025

Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Metabolism

Analysis of Hematopoietic Stem Progenitor Cell Metabolism

Published on: November 9, 2019

Bioenergetics and the Oxidative Burst: Protocols for the Isolation and Evaluation of Human Leukocytes and Platelets

Bioenergetics and the Oxidative Burst: Protocols for the Isolation and Evaluation of Human Leukocytes and Platelets

Published on: March 27, 2014

Area of Science:

Hematology
Biochemistry
Cell Biology

Background:

Erythrocytes (red blood cells) undergo metabolic, morphological, and functional alterations when stored outside the circulatory system.
Understanding these changes is vital for optimizing blood storage and transfusion practices.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the time- and temperature-dependent changes in erythrocyte metabolism and shape.
To assess the impact of these changes on blood viscosity.
To explore potential reversibility of erythrocyte alterations.

Main Methods:

Incubation of anticoagulated blood (heparin, citrate, EDTA) at 5°C, 22°C, and 37°C for 0, 24, and 48 hours.
Measurement of glucose, ATP, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels.
Morphological analysis of erythrocytes (swelling, echinocytosis) and blood viscosity assessment.
Testing reversibility of echinocytosis using albumin and other molecules.

Main Results:

A time- and temperature-dependent decrease in glucose and ATP, and an increase in lactate and LDH were observed.
Erythrocytes exhibited swelling and echinocytic shape transformation, which was also time- and temperature-dependent.
Echinocytosis correlated with increased blood viscosity at high shear rates.
Albumin partially reversed echinocytosis, while other molecules did not.

Conclusions:

Erythrocyte storage conditions significantly affect their metabolic state and morphology.
These alterations influence blood viscosity and may have implications for transfusion efficacy.
Albumin shows potential in mitigating storage-induced erythrocyte shape changes.