Effects of acetylcholine and spermineNONOate on erythrocyte hemorheologic and oxygen carrying properties.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY To determine the effects of acetylcholine and spermineNONOate--a NO donor--on RBC membrane and oxygen carrying properties. MATERIAL AND METHODS Aliquots of venous blood from eleven healthy subjects were incubated with ACh 10(-3) M, ACh 10(-5) M, spermineNONOate 10(-5) M and spermineNONOate 10(-4) M. The following parameters were determined: erythrocyte aggregation and deformability, hematocrit, plasma pH, osmolality, K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+) concentrations, hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, carboxyhemoglobin and methemoglobin concentrations, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, oxygen and carbon dioxide partial pressures and p50. RESULTS In presence of ACh there is an increase of erythrocyte deformability, decrease of erythrocyte aggregation, plasma pH, K(+) and Na(+) concentration, increase of Ca(2+) concentration and p50. In presence of spermineNONOate there is an increase of erythrocyte deformability, plasma pH, decrease of Na(+) and Ca(2+) concentration, increase of metHb concentration and decrease of p50. CONCLUSION Acetylcholine and spermineNONOate are able to induce changes on RBC membrane and oxygen carrying properties.