[Changes of gas exchange parameters and of functional-biochemical properties of erythrocytes in dynamics of experimental anemia in rats].

In experiments on Wistar male rats, on a specially constructed computer installation, O2 consumption by the animals in comparison with changes of hematological, biochemical, and rheological blood properties is studied after anemization--acute bloodletting (12-15% of the total blood mass). An increase of the O2 consumption by the organism and tissues by 18-28% has been revealed for the first 7 days after the bloodletting, in spite of a pronounced decrease of hematocrit, and of the amount of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in peripheral blood by 20-25% of the initial level. There was a 5-10-fold increase of the content of immature erythrocyte forms--reticulocytes and a progressive rise of cell acidic resistance, which is characteristic of young erythrocyte forms. An increase of O2 consumption at a decrease of the blood oxygen capacity (a low hemoglobin level) seems to be due to the more efficient transport and yield of O2 to tissues. At the 3rd 7th day after the bloodletting, activity of Na,K-ATPase has been shown to increase by 60% and 20%, respectively. Analysis of the erythrocyte rheological properties has shown that the maximal firmness of aggregates (Uq) and the aggregation rate (1/T) decrease progressively beginning from 3 days after the bloodletting; index of deformability (I(max)) turned out to be elevated by 7-11%, probably due to an increase of the cell membrane elasticity. The conclusion is made that changes of erythrocyte rheological properties are interconnected with changes of the Na,K-ATPase activity and are directed to optimization of blood circulation in large vessels and the capillary network.

[Dynamics of blood hematological parameters of white rats in postnatal ontogenesis].

In experiments on Wistar rats, dynamics of blood hematological and rheological parameters has been studied from birth to the 3-month age. Results of the study indicate an intensive activity of the red bone marrow anlagen during the first 3 weeks of postnatal ontogenesis. This is manifested in an increase of the number of cells in the erythron system, a change of erythrocyte acidic resistance, and a shift in the leukocytic formula. The boundary between the 2nd and 3rd postnatal weeks is critical: there occur a sharp deceleration of erythropoiesis and a change of the age-related erythrocyte composition and the blood leukocyte ratio towards those characteristic of adult rats. The rise in the number of leukocytes and erythrocytes does not cease after having passed this period. Until the 4-week age, the deformability index increases, which is accompanied by an increase of hemoglobin hydration and by improvement of the erythrocyte toroid form. Subsequently, inversion of these processes occurs.

[Changes of physiological and biochemical characteristics of rat erythrocytes after blood loss].

In experiments of Wistar male rats, changes are studied of erythrocyte hematological, biochemical (activitities of transport ATPases), and rheological properties (capability for aggregation and deformability) 7 days after bloodletting of 12-15 % of the total blood mass. It has been shown that alongside with an elevation of erythrocyte volume and of the number of immature cells - reticulocytes, there was a statistically significant increase of Na,K-ATPase and Ca-ATPase activities in the whole erythrocytes and their membrane preparations - ghosts, the increment of activity in the case of Na,K-ATPase being essentially higher in the whole cells. This indicates the appearance of an enzyme activator inside the erythrocytes. There are also revealed a decrease of firmness of erythrocyte aggregates, a deceleration of spontaneous aggregation, and an increase of index of erythrocyte deformability. The conclusion is made that changes of erythrocyte rheological properties are interconnected with changes of the Na,K-ATPase activity and are directed to optimization of blood circulation in large vessels and capillary network.