[Preservation of the blood of slaughter animals by the non-diaphragmatic use of solidified carbon dioxide. I. Metabolism of the erythrocytes].

The preservation effectivity slaughter animal blood for consumptive purposes was studied by a new method of direct action with solidified CO2. The material used was full pig blood stabilized with sodium citrate. The average sample taken from 10-15 animals was divided into samples stabilized with solidified CO2 and control samples conventionally cooled to the storage temperature assumed in the experiment. The blood samples were stored at 5 degrees C, 10 degrees C and 15 degrees C. The course of the storage changes of the quality factors studied in relation to the blood properties has been described by regression equations. It was found that in the stabilization process a rapid cooling and CO2 binding occurred in the blood, which resulted in partial displacement of oxygen and simultaneous acidification of the medium. The destructive effects of low temperature of the cooling agent used on the morphological elements of blood appeared practically insignificant. However, considerable differences in the stability of erythrocytes of the blood stabilized with CO2 were found in comparison with control blood. Decreased hemolysis during storage of blood saturated with CO2 resulted from significant changes in metabolism of erythrocytes expressed by decreased glycolysis rate, increased rate of 2.3-DPG exhaustion and by increasing affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. On the basis of the results of the studies the preservation method used appeared to be suitable for preservation of full technological value of the stored blood.