Abstract
The role of erythrocyte deformability and vasculature in a blood flow was investigated from pressure-flow rate relation of erythrocyte suspension in the perfusion of bullfrog's hind limbs. The pressure-flow rate relation was constructed by a vertical-tube method ( Nichol, J. et al., Am. J. Physiol. 1951 ) with a slight modification. For the evaluation of red cell deformability, hind limbs were fixed by perfusing glutaraldehyde solution. The perfusion of several stages of echinocytes or stomatocytes in fixed hind limbs showed the decrease in the rate of flow or the increase in the resistance to flow. Thus the hind limb perfusion method ( whether intact or fixed ) provides an unique aspect in the study of red cell deformability and the hemodynamic action of vasculature. The uninjured intact vascular vessels were able to compensate lowered erythrocyte deformability in a flow to a considerable extent. On the other hand, chlorpromazine-treated vascular bed enhanced synergetically the disturbance of blood flow caused by undeformable erythrocytes. These results reveal clearly an important role of vasculature as well as red cell deformation in a maintenance of blood flow. It can be concluded that the present study provides significant implications in understanding the link between in vitro experiment and in vivo situation. (J. Jpn. Soc. Biorheol., 1 (4), 230~,240, 1987)
