Erythrocyte aggregation under high pressure studied by laser photometry and mathematical analysis

The effects of hydrostatic pressure on erythrocyte aggregation have been studied by laser photometry and analysis based on a phenomenological theory. Samples were prepared by suspending swine erythrocytes in their own plasma. A high-pressure vessel consisting of a stainless-steel block with a hole to hold a sample cell and two sapphire windows to allows the passage of a He-Ne laser beam was used in the experimental setup. The suspension was stirred at 1500 rpm to disperse the erythrocytes homogeneously. Immediately after reducing the stirring rate from 1500 rpm to 300 rpm, the transmitted light intensity (I) was recorded every 10 ms under a high pressure of 40-200 MPa. The value of I increased with time (t) owing to erythrocyte aggregation. From the phenomenological theory, the equation ΔI(t)=ΔIeq[1-e(-Kt)/(1-B(1-e(-Kt)))] was derived for the change in the transmitted light intensity (ΔI) due to erythrocyte aggregation, where ΔIeq is the transmitted light intensity in the steady state, K is a time constant and B is a constant that represents the ratio of the number of interaction sites on erythrocyte aggregates at time t to that in the steady state. The observed time courses of ΔI obtained at all pressures could be closely fitted to the theoretical equation. ΔIeq roughly increased with increasing pressure. On the other hand, K and B abruptly decreased above 120 MPa. The growth rate of aggregates decreased above 120 MPa. These results suggest a change in the mechanism of erythrocyte aggregation at approximately 120 MPa. We discuss the physical meaning of the parameters.