Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 10, 2025
Induction of Eryptosis in Red Blood Cells Using a Calcium Ionophore
Published on: January 21, 2020
In vitro effect of high glucose concentrations on erythrocyte morphology assessed by scanning electron microscopy
Alejandra Loyola-Leyva1, Luz E Alcántara-Quintana1, Yolanda Terán-Figueroa2
1Coordination for Innovation and Application of Science and Technology (Coordinación para la Innovación y Aplicación de la Ciencia y Tecnología, CIACyT), Avenida Sierra Leona 550, Lomas 2ª sección, 78210, San Luis Potosí, S.L.P, Mexico.
Aims:
To evaluate the in vitro effect of different glucose concentrations and the time series in erythrocyte cell viability and morphology parameters.
Methods:
Different glucose concentrations were assessed, from a normal physiological glucose concentration (5 mM) to a diabetes scenario (100 mM). Cell viability was obtained by the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay. The erythrocyte morphology (diameter, height, and axial ratio) was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results:
A significant decrease in cell viability was observed in erythrocytes with higher glucose concentration (100 mM). There was also a significant increase in the cells' diameter and height exposed to 100 mM, vs. those cultured with 5, 20, and 45 mM glucose, but only at 24 and 48 h. When comparing the same glucose concentration by a time series, it was observed that erythrocytes from the culture with 45 and 100 mM of glucose had a significant continuous decrease (approximately -0.40 μm) in diameter and height (24, 48, and 72 h), but there was no difference in the axial ratio observed.
Conclusion:
Continuous exposure to high glucose concentrations in diabetes models produced less cell viability and changes in erythrocyte morphology (larger and scrambled cells), which in vivo might impact in microvascular complications.
