Age-Related Erythrocyte Structure and Rheological Blood Properties in Athletes

The relationship between the rheological blood properties and several indices of age-related erythrocyte structure was established in endurance-training athletes (n = 21). Unlike nonathletic subjects, the athletes had a shift in the age-related structure towards younger erythrocyte forms: reticulocytosis, increased erythrocyte resistance, increased percentage of cells with a diameter exceeding 8 m, and decreased percentage of cells with a diameter of less than 7 m. The established correlations between total reticulocyte concentration, mature and immature reticulocyte concentrations, and percentage of cells with a diameter either exceeding 8 m or less than 7 m, on the one hand, and hemorheological parameters (blood viscosity, erythrocyte suspension viscosity, erythrocyte aggregation, and surface/volume ratio) and physical work capacity, on the other hand, revealed a significant effect of younger erythrocyte forms on hemorheological indices in athletes.