Electrophoretic Studies of Red Cell Extracts of Stored Blood1

Abstract

Aqueous red cell extracts prepared from human blood were analyzed by electrophoresis. Three boundaries (f, A and B), listed in the order of decreasing mobility, were observed in a cacodylate buffer at 0.05 [image] concentration and pH 6.5. The concentration gradient of the buffer salt is responsible for the f boundary while components A and B appear to be hemoglobins. Component B represents about 25% of the total pattern area of red cell extracts from freshly drawn blood of healthy males. During storage of ACD and ACD plus Phenergan bloods, the component B concentrations decrease at the same rate after about 30 days. Osmotic fragility in 0.6% NaCl is lower in the Phenergan supplemented blood. Addition of adenosine (2500 [mu] moles/100 ml RBC), inosine (2500 [mu] moles/100 ml RBC) or inosine plus Phenergan (0.4 mM/1 of blood) are responsible for maintaining component B concentrations at elevated levels during 50-60 days of storage. The osmotic fragility was lowest in the presence of inosine plus Phenergan. Small amounts of inosine (1250 and 625 [mu] moles/100 ml RBC) added to ACD blood appear to increase the rate of disappearance of component B during storage. Addition of adenosine or inosine to ACD blood, stored for 21 or 48 days, causes the repletion of component B. A marked decrease in component B concentration was observed within the first 24 hours of storage of ACD blood at 20[degree] and 37[degree]C. Component B concentrations of red cells from patients with anemia showed wide differences during storage. The component B concentration may serve as an indicator for judging the viability of red cells. The importance of osmotic resistance as a factor in red cell preservation cannot be assessed.