A comparison of biochemical and functional alterations of rat and human erythrocytes stored in CPDA-1 for 29 days: implications for animal models of transfusion
Ms. D'Almeida et al., A comparison of biochemical and functional alterations of rat and human erythrocytes stored in CPDA-1 for 29 days: implications for animal models of transfusion, TRANSFUS M, 10(4), 2000, pp. 291-303
Animal models of transfusion are employed in many research areas yet little
is known about the storage-related changes occurring in the blood used in
these studies. This study assessed storage-related changes in red blood cel
l (RBC) biochemistry, function and membrane deformability in rat and human
packed RBCs when stored in CPDA-1 at 4 degreesC over a 4-week period. Human
blood from five volunteers and five bags of rat RBC concentrates (five don
or rats per bag) were collected and stored at 4 degreesC. RBC function was
assessed by post-transfusion viability and the ability to regenerate adenos
ine triphosphate (ATP) and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (DPG) when treated with a
rejuvenation solution. Membrane deformability was determined by a micropip
ette aspiration technique. ATP in rat RBCs declined more rapidly than human
RBCs; after 1 week rat ATP fell to the same level as human cells after 4 w
eeks of storage (rat, 2.2 +/- 0.2 mu mol g(-1) Hb; human, 2.5 +/- 0.3 mu mo
l g(-1) Hb). Baseline DPG concentrations were similar in rat and human RBCs
(16.2 +/- 2.3 mu mol g(-1) Hb and 13.7 +/- 2.4 mu mol g(-1) Hb) and declin
ed very rapidly in both species. Human RBCs fully regenerated ATP and DPG w
hen treated with a rejuvenation solution after 4 weeks of storage. Rat RBCs
regenerated ATP but not DPG. Posttransfusion viability in rat cells was 79
%, 26% and 5% after 1, 2 and 4 weeks of storage, respectively. In rats, dec
reased membrane deformability became significant (- 54%) after 7 days. Huma
n RBC deformability decreased significantly by 34% after 4 weeks of storage
. The rejuvenation solution restored RBC deformability to control levels in
both species. Our results indicate that rat RBCs stored for 1 week in CPDA
-1 develop a storage lesion similar to that of human RBCs stored for 4 week
s and underscores significant species-specific differences in the structure
and metabolism of these cells.