Transformation of Erythrocytes in Rats of Different Ages

Abstract

The dynamics of transformation and osmotic fragility (OF) of erythrocytes in the blood of rats of different ages (6, 12, and 24 months) were studied. The indices of transformation of erythrocytes were calculated. The heterogeneity of the erythrocyte population in the blood increases with age. The proportion of both normal and highly resistant flattened discocytes decreases. The proportion of flattened discocytes is the lowest in 12-month-old rats. Correspondingly, the proportion of erythrocytes with altered shapes, both reversibly (stomatocytes) and irreversibly (spherocytes), increases with age. The transformation of erythrocytes develops via the stomatocytic pathway. The level of erythrocyte OF does not differ significantly between rats of different ages. However, a tendency toward increasing fragility is observed. The indices of transformation, both reversible and irreversible, increase with age, except for the reversibility index, which is the highest in 6‑month-old rats, is not significantly changed in 12-month-old rats, and is decreased almost 3.5-fold in 24‑month-old rats compared to 6-month-old ones. The transformation index is lower and the reversibility index higher in 6-month-old rats compared to the other age groups.