Biomaterial Database

Determination of red blood cell membrane viscosity from rheoscopic observations of tank-treading motion. 1984

R Tran-Son-Tay, and S P Sutera, and P R Rao

Measurements of the dimensions and membrane rotational frequency of individual erythrocytes steadily tank-treading in a rheoscope are used to deduce the surface shear viscosity of the membrane. The method is based on an integral energy principle which says that the power supplied to the tank-treading cell by the suspending fluid is equal to the rate at which energy is dissipated by viscous action in the membrane and cytoplasm. The integrals involved are formulated with the aid of an idealized mathematical model of the tank-treading red blood cell (RBC) (Keller and Skalak, 1982, J. Fluid Mech., 120:24-27) and evaluated numerically. The outcome is a surface-averaged value of membrane viscosity which is representative of a finite interval of membrane shear rate. The numerical values computed show a clear shear-thinning characteristic as well as a significant augmentation of viscosity with cell age and tend toward agreement with those determined for the rapid phase of shape recovery in micropipettes (Chien, S., K.-L. P. Sung, R. Skalak, S. Usami, and A. Tozeren, 1978, Biophys. J., 24:463-487). The computations also indicate that the rate of energy dissipation in the membrane is always substantially greater than that in the cytoplasm.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008433	Mathematics	The deductive study of shape, quantity, and dependence. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Mathematic
D008955	Models, Cardiovascular	Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of the cardiovascular system, processes, or phenomena; includes the use of mathematical equations, computers and other electronic equipment.	Cardiovascular Model,Cardiovascular Models,Model, Cardiovascular
D001809	Blood Viscosity	The internal resistance of the BLOOD to shear forces. The in vitro measure of whole blood viscosity is of limited clinical utility because it bears little relationship to the actual viscosity within the circulation, but an increase in the viscosity of circulating blood can contribute to morbidity in patients suffering from disorders such as SICKLE CELL ANEMIA and POLYCYTHEMIA.	Blood Viscosities,Viscosities, Blood,Viscosity, Blood
D004905	Erythrocyte Aging	The senescence of RED BLOOD CELLS. Lacking the organelles that make protein synthesis possible, the mature erythrocyte is incapable of self-repair, reproduction, and carrying out certain functions performed by other cells. This limits the average life span of an erythrocyte to 120 days.	Erythrocyte Survival,Aging, Erythrocyte,Survival, Erythrocyte
D004910	Erythrocyte Membrane	The semi-permeable outer structure of a red blood cell. It is known as a red cell 'ghost' after HEMOLYSIS.	Erythrocyte Ghost,Red Cell Cytoskeleton,Red Cell Ghost,Erythrocyte Cytoskeleton,Cytoskeleton, Erythrocyte,Cytoskeleton, Red Cell,Erythrocyte Cytoskeletons,Erythrocyte Ghosts,Erythrocyte Membranes,Ghost, Erythrocyte,Ghost, Red Cell,Membrane, Erythrocyte,Red Cell Cytoskeletons,Red Cell Ghosts
D004912	Erythrocytes	Red blood cells. Mature erythrocytes are non-nucleated, biconcave disks containing HEMOGLOBIN whose function is to transport OXYGEN.	Blood Cells, Red,Blood Corpuscles, Red,Red Blood Cells,Red Blood Corpuscles,Blood Cell, Red,Blood Corpuscle, Red,Erythrocyte,Red Blood Cell,Red Blood Corpuscle
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012212	Rheology	The study of the deformation and flow of matter, usually liquids or fluids, and of the plastic flow of solids. The concept covers consistency, dilatancy, liquefaction, resistance to flow, shearing, thixotrophy, and VISCOSITY.	Flowmetry,Velocimetry,Velocimetries