Frequency of nucleated red blood cells in maternal blood during the different gestational ages

We wished to determine the time of pregnancy at which optimal numbers of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) are present in maternal blood. Because 30% of the NRBC in maternal blood are fetal, there are implications for prenatal screening and diagnosis. Samples of whole blood were collected from each of 225 women at various times during pregnancy. The samples were processed by charge flow separation (CFS), the NRBC enumerated, and the numbers compared on a week-to-week basis. To quantify the relationship between week of pregnancy and actual and log-transformed numbers of NRBC recovered, Pearson product moment and Spearman correlation coefficient were estimated for each of four CFS instruments and for the four instruments combined. When the data were analyzed, we found no relationship between stage of pregnancy and numbers of NRBC recovered. Even after logarithmic transformation, variability among the women, estimated by standard deviation, was large and relatively stable across the different stages of pregnancy. The number of NRBC recoverable by CFS appears to be constant between 7 and 25 weeks. Received: 26 August 1998 / Accepted: 26 October 1998     

Differential effect of neuraminidase-treatment on the surface charge-associated properties of rat reticulocytes and erythrocytes: Studies by partitioning in two-polymer aqueous phases

Rat reticulocytes undergo charge-associated surface changes, detectable by cell partitioning in charged dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous phase systems, as they become mature erythrocytes. Young reticulocytes have a lower partition coefficient, i.e., quantity of cells in the top phase as a percentage of total cells added, than do mature erythrocytes. Sialic acid is the main charge-bearing group on red blood cells and, in the case of the rat, most of the sialic acid can be removed by treatment of the cells with neuraminidase (Vibrio cholerae). By combining isotopic ⁵⁹Fe-labeling of reticulocytes with countercurrent distribution of the entire red blood cell population in charged dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous phases we have now studied the relative effect of neuraminidase-treatment on rat reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes. It was found that neuraminidase-treatment (a) does not eliminate surface differences, detectable by partitioning, between rat reticulocytes and erythrocytes and (b) reduces the partition coefficient of mature erythrocytes to a greater extent than the partition coefficient of reticulocytes indicating a differential effect of this enzyme on the two cell populations.     

Differential effect of neuraminidase-treatment on the surface charge-associated properties of rat reticulocytes and erythrocytes. Studies by partitioning in two-polymer aqueous phases

Rat reticulocytes undergo charge-associated surface changes, detectable by cell partitioning in charged dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous phase systems, as they become mature erythrocytes. Young reticulocytes have a lower partition coefficient, i.e., quantity of cells in the top phase as a percentage of total cells added, than do mature erythrocytes. Sialic acid is the main charge-bearing group on red blood cells and, in the case of the rat, most of the sialic acid can be removed by treatment of the cells with neuraminidase (Vibrio cholerae). By combining isotopic 59Fe-labeling of reticulocytes with countercurrent distribution of the entire red blood cell population in charged dextran-poly(ethylene glycol) aqueous phases we have now studied the relative effect of neuraminidase-treatment on rat reticulocytes and mature erythrocytes. It was found that neuraminidase-treatment (a) does not eliminate surface differences, detectable by partitioning, between rat reticulocytes and erythrocytes and (b) reduces the partition coefficient of mature erythrocytes to a greater extent than the partition coefficient of reticulocytes indicating a differential effect of this enzyme on the two cell populations.     

Volumetric studies on the red nucleus of the rat at different ages.

The postnatal development of the red nucleus in albino rat was quantitatively studied. Planimetric studies on stained paraffin sections of the midbrain showed that the red nucleus has a rounded contour with tapering ends and a broad centre. The volume of the red nucleus revealed an increase from birth, to reach its maximum at the age of 3 months, then declines until the age of 2 years. However, the size does not regain its newly born value. On the other hand, the number of cells remains constant during the entire life span of the animal.     

Antioxidant effect of red wine polyphenols on red blood cells

The protective effect of red wine polyphenols against hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced oxidation was investigated in normal human erythrocytes (RBCs). RBCs, preincubated with micromolar amounts of wine extract and challenged with H(2)O(2), were analyzed for reactive oxygen species (ROS), hemolysis, methemoglobin production, and lipid peroxidation. All these oxidative modifications were prevented by incubating the RBCs with oak barrel aged red wine extract (SD95) containing 3.5 mM gallic acid equivalent (GAE) of phenolic compounds. The protective effect was less apparent when RBCs were incubated with wines containing lower levels of polyphenols. Furthermore, resveratrol and quercetin, well known red wine antioxidants, showed lower antioxidant properties compared with SD95, indicating that interaction between constituents may bring about effects that are not necessarily properties of the singular components. Our findings demonstrate that the nonalcoholic components of red wine, mainly polyphenols, have potent antioxidant properties, supporting the hypothesis of a beneficial effect of red wine in oxidative stress in human system.     

The role of variant surface antigens on malaria-infected red blood cells.

It has been proposed that the primary role of variant antigens appearing on the surface of red blood cells infected with malaria parasites is to mediate cytoadherence, and that the antigenic variation they display is an adaptation to avoid immune attack. Here, Allan Saul proposes that their role is the opposite: that their primary purpose is to generate an immune response, which regulates their growth and thereby establishes a chronic infection, and that the role of cytoadherence is to ensure that parasites failing to express this flag to the immune system are destroyed by the spleen.     

The effect of anions on Mg-ATPase in red blood cells.

Anions exert an influence on the passive permeability of Na+ and K+ in erythrocytes. THE EFFECT ON Mg-ATPase activity has been studied in human erythrocytes. 40 mM bicarbonate increased the activity as compared to the effect of 40 mM chloride; 20 mM sulphate inhibited it. Salicylate acted first as an activator then as an inhibitor of Mg-ATPase; maximum activity was reached at 60 mM CONCENTRATION. Thiocyanate inhibited saponin-stimulated Mg-ATPase, Ki = 1.85 X 10(-2)M. The probable mechanisms of action of the above anions on Mg-ATPase and possible relation to passive permeability of Na+ and K+ ions are discussed.     

The protective effect of different forms of human ceruloplasmin in copper-induced lysis of red blood cells

The comparison of protective effects of native ceruloplasmin (CP) and of preparation CP1 containing carbohydrate fragment GlcNAc(beta(1,4]GlcNAc which specifically binds on RBC (alpha(1,6)Fuc receptors showed that CP1 exhibits much more powerful protective effect on RBC in copper-induced lysis. It was found, however, that CP2 (native CP devoided of CP1) protected RBC as well as CP despite its inability of binding to RBC membrane. CP and CP1 in a similar way decrease copper concentration in RBC. It was shown that copper accumulation and GSH decrease in RBC are two independent and concurrent processes; the copper and GSH concentrations are not the factors determining RBC resistance to hemolysis. CP inhibits the reaction of superoxide radicals generation as a result of Cu interaction with -SH groups of RBC membrane; the effect is more pronounced than the effect of catalase or superoxide dismutase. CP and CP1 preparations equally inhibit this reaction. Apparently CP reception on RBC leads not only to membrane protection from superoxide and hydroxyl radicals but represents a more complex process.     

Transformation-dependent effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on surface properties of rat cultured cells

The possible differential effect of dibutyryl cyclic AMP on the surface properties of ts-NT3-KR rat cells that express a normal phenotype at 37 degrees C and a transformed morphology and behavior at 33 degrees C has been studied. Electrophoretic examination of glycosylated macromolecules revealed a 350,000 dalton glycoconjugate in phenotypically normal cells but not in the corresponding samples from phenotypically transformed cells or in phenotypically "normal" cells rounded by exposure to the cyclic nucleotide. A decreased exposure of a major 100,000 dalton surface component characteristic of cells that expressed a transformed phenotype, was observed when the corresponding cultures were exposed to dibutyryl cyclic AMP. No change in the 230,000 dalton fibronectinlike molecule of phenotypically normal cells was apparent even in the corresponding cultures exposed to the cyclic nucleotide.