Marked changes in red cell volume response to isotonic glucose solution during storage

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Biochemistry
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Erythrocyte volume changes during blood storage are critical for transfusion viability.
• Hexose solutions like glucose and galactose are used in blood preservation.
• Understanding erythrocyte response to storage solutions informs blood banking practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate erythrocyte volume alterations in isotonic glucose and galactose solutions during prolonged blood storage.
• To characterize the kinetics of erythrocyte volume changes over 13 weeks at 4°C.
• To explore potential mechanisms behind observed volume changes, focusing on membrane protein integrity.

Main Methods:

• Blood samples were stored for 13 weeks at 4°C.
• A novel blood cell volume analyzer was employed for continuous erythrocyte volume measurements.
• Isotonic solutions of glucose and galactose were used to study hexose effects.

Main Results:

• Erythrocyte volume showed a gradual increase, reaching a plateau after 13 weeks of storage.
• The percentage of volume increase in hexose solutions significantly decreased within the first 4 weeks.
• A decline in hexose permeation was observed during the initial storage period.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged blood storage in hexose solutions leads to progressive erythrocyte volume increase.
• The reduced volume increase in hexose solutions early in storage suggests a rapid loss of hexose transport function.
• Denaturation of membrane proteins involved in hexose permeation is a likely cause for these observed changes.