Orientation of glutaraldehyde-fixed erythrocytes in strong static magnetic fields

In a uniform static magnetic field up to 8 Telsa, glutaraldehyde-fixed erythrocytes showed an orientation in which their disk plane was perpendicular to the magnetic field. The paramagnetism of membrane-bound hemoglobin was thought to contribute significantly to this orientation. The observation of magnetic orientation is directed toward understanding the fundamental microstructural aspects of the erythrocyte. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.