Transformations of glycolysis control characteristics in human erythrocytes during blood storage

Changes in glycolysis control characteristics (dependence of glycolysis rate on ATP concentration) in erythrocytes were studied during the storage of donors blood with glucose citrate hemoconservant. During the first two weeks of storage the shape of glycolysis control characteristics in the erythrocytes could be shown to remain practically unchanged, which was represented by a bell-shaped curve such as in fresh erythrocytes. During this period the physiological point of glycolysis will move along the glycolysis control characteristics towards the maximum of the curve. Once the maximum of the physiological point has been reached, the shape of the curve can be seen to change. The maximum on the curve becomes less evident, moving down and to the left from its initial position. These changes will occur after two to four weeks of storage. In some cases the maximum on glycolysis control characteristics will disappear at the latest stages of storage. The changes observed will occur in blood of different donors at different moments of storage. The nature of the changes observed and their influence on erythrocyte viability are discussed.