Rejuvenation of erythrocytes preserved with AS-1 and AS-3.

Rejuvenation of erythrocytes (biochemical modification of adenosine triphosphate and 2,3-diphosphoglycerate) preserved with currently available nutrient additive solutions has not been licensed or adequately studied. The ability of the commercially available solution PIPA to modify erythrocytes preserved with AS-1 or AS-3 for 35 and 42 days was studied. Use of PIPA produced greater-than-normal levels of adenosine triphosphate in the preserved erythrocytes. Restoration of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate was suboptimal at both periods. (PIPA treatment produces normal levels of 2,3-diphosphoglycerate in erythrocytes preserved for 35 days with citrate-phosphate-dextrose-adenine-1.) In erythrocytes preserved with AS-1 or AS-3 for 42 days, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate returned to normal levels after a second PIPA rejuvenation. This study demonstrates that biochemical modification is possible in erythrocytes preserved with AS-1 or AS-3 for 42 days.