Flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels of isolated rabbit mesentery: cell-free layer and flow resistance

A part of microvascular bed isolated from rabbit mesentery (composed of a few branches of superior mesenteric artery) was used for the study of the flow dynamics of erythrocytes in microvessels. The flow resistance in the microvascular bed was analyzed with respect to the thickness of a cell-free layer formed along the inner wall of vessels and the suspension viscosity of erythrocytes (in terms of hematocrit and erythrocyte deformability). The thickness of the cell-free layer increased with the increase in the inner diameter of microvessels. By lowering the hematocrit, the thickness increased and the flow resistance decreased. Meanwhile, by decreasing the erythrocyte deformability with diamide, the thickness decreased and the flow resistance increased. However, the thickness was not altered in microvessels less than 10 microns by the diamide treatment. The maximum inner diameter of microvessel required to induce parachute- and/or slipper-like deformation (at flow velocity of erythrocytes less than 2 mm s-1) was 13 microns for control cells and 6 microns for diamide-treated cells. The thickness of the cell-free layer could not be closely related to the flow resistance, while a good relationship applicable to both control and diamide-treated cells was obtained between the flow resistance and the suspension viscosity. The present results conclude that the flow resistance in the isolated microvascular bed is mainly provided by both hematocrit and erythrocyte deformability.