Role of erythrocyte deformability in the acute XXXX in the pulmonary vasculature.

@entity35 @entity519 @entity26
To assess the importance of erythrocyte deformability in the pulmonary @entity519 ( @entity519 ) we examined whether alterations in erythrocyte deformability are related to the differences between the brisk @entity519 in @entity35 vs the small @entity519 in hamsters, and between the @entity519 in low altitude @entity35 vs high altitude @entity35 (10 days in 10% @entity26 ). Deformability of the erythrocytes (RBC) was assessed by filtering equal volume of RBC suspension through Nucleopore filters (4.7 micron) using the same pressure head across the filter. The results show that during @entity519 , @entity35 RBC become relatively nondeformable compared to hamster's RBC. This finding is consistent with a large @entity519 in @entity35 but a small @entity519 in hamsters. Furthermore, the deformability of RBC from high altitude @entity35 became unaffected by @entity519 and was associated with blunting in the @entity519 in isolated lungs from high altitude @entity35 . The @entity519 in isolated lungs from low altitude @entity35 was larger when they were perfused with blood from normal @entity35 (= 86% increase in resistance) than when perfused with blood from high altitude @entity35 (= 36% increase in resistance). This finding further supports the possible role of RBC deformability in @entity519 . Inconsistent with the importance of deformability, however, was the finding that high altitude @entity35 lungs had a blunted @entity519 whether they were perfused with normal @entity35 blood or high altitude @entity35 blood. This may be due to restructuring of the pulmonary microvascular bed in the lung from high altitude @entity35 . The results favor the idea that changes in erythrocyte deformability may be responsible for the difference between the @entity519 in low altitude @entity35 and hamsters, and between the @entity519 in low and high altitude @entity35 . We suggest that 'obstruction' of the capillaries by less deformable erythrocyte is another factor, besides smooth muscle contraction, responsible for the @entity519 in the pulmonary vasculature.
