Acid-citrate-dextrose-phosphoenolpyruvate medium as a rejuvenant for blood storage

Abstract

Stored, depleted RBC [red blood cell] were rejuvenated with respect to their levels of ATP, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate (2,3-DPG), and P50 [O2 partial pressure at 50% saturation of Hb] by acid-citrate-dextrose preservatives containing phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) without sucrose. The restorations of P50 and 2,3-DPG were dependent on the PEP concentration. Erythrocyte P50 and 2,3-DPG, even after treatment with these preservatives, decreased with increasing storage period, but the P50 and 2,3-DPG of 5-wk-old blood were still higher than the corresponding values of fresh blood. ATP concentration was also increased by treating stored blood with preservatives containing PEP, but the elevated ATP of 5-wk-old blood was only .apprx. 50% of fresh blood. The ATP level could not be raised further by increasing PEP concentration but was improved by supplementation with adenine and nucleosides. Incubation of stored blood with 15 mM PEP was sufficient to restore ATP, 2,3-DPG and P50 of 3-wk-old blood to nearly normal. Sucrose apparently is not necessary for PEP to be effective as a preservative additive.