The influence of suspension osmolarity and erythrocyte volume on cell deformability

Erythrocytes were suspended in dextran solutions of phosphate buffered saline with solution osmolarities from 400 to 20 mosM/kg. The dilute suspensions were subjected to linear shear and their deformation determined by laser diffractometry (Ektacytometer). Cell volumes were measured using a Coulter counter following fixation in glutaraldehyde to eliminate the influence of deformability on the volume measurement. Minimum deformability generally agreed with the maximum cellular volume produced by hypotonic solutions. However, reduced deformability was observed for both hyperosmotic and hypoosmotic conditions. The oncotic effect of the dextran delayed hemolysis to surprisingly low values of solution osmolarity. In contrast with the usual osmotic fragility results, in the hypotonic dextran solutions there was no evidence of hemoglobin release. At low shear stresses, deformability was found to be enhanced by reducing intracellular viscosity (via osmotic water transport into the cell). However, the maximum cellular deformation obtained at high shear stress was always less than that for the normal discocyte at normal osmolarities.