Reinhart WH, Piety NZ, Shevkoplyas SS. Influence of red blood cell aggregation on perfusion of an artificial microvascular network.
Microcirculation 2018;
24. [PMID:
27647727 DOI:
10.1111/micc.12317]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
RBCs suspended in plasma form multicellular aggregates under low-flow conditions, increasing apparent blood viscosity at low shear rates. It has previously been unclear, however, if RBC aggregation affects microvascular perfusion. Here, we analyzed the impact of RBC aggregation on perfusion and 'capillary' hematocrit in an AMVN at driving pressures ranging from 5 to 60 cm H2 O to determine if aggregation could improve tissue oxygenation.
METHODS
RBCs were suspended at 30% hematocrit in either 46.5 g/L dextran 40 (D40, non-aggregating medium) or 35 g/L dextran 70 (D70, aggregating medium) solutions with equal viscosity.
RESULTS
Aggregation was readily observed in the AMVN for RBCs suspended in D70 at driving pressures ≤40 cm H2 O. The AMVN perfusion rate was the same for RBCs suspended in aggregating and non-aggregating medium, at both 'venular' and 'capillary' level. Estimated 'capillary' hematocrit was higher for D70 suspensions than for D40 suspensions at intermediate driving pressures (5-40 cm H2 O).
CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that although RBC aggregation did not affect the AMVN perfusion rate independently of the driving pressure, a higher hematocrit in the 'capillaries' of the network for D70 suspensions suggested a better oxygen transport capacity in the presence of RBC aggregation.
Collapse