Dintenfass L
Biorheology. 1986;23(4):331-47. doi: 10.3233/bir-1986-23403.
A project on "Aggregation of Red Cells" has been accepted by NASA in 1977. An automated slit-capillary photo-viscometer has been designed during 1979-1984, and its last version met NASA's space hazards requirements. The 'heart' of instrument is a set of two highly polished glass plates, spaced by a gap of 12.5 micrometers. An original drum-like infusion pump allows utilization of up to eight blood samples. During a sequential process, blood flows through the slit, and then stops to allow formation of aggregates. Micro- and macro-photography is carried out, and 500 photographs are obtained. Blood from normal donors and patients with history of ischaemic heart disease, colon cancer, juvenile-onset diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, etc., is anticoagulated and adjusted to haematocrit of 0.30 using native plasma. Samples are divided, and infused into the 'flight' and 'ground' instruments. Prior to experiment temp. is 5 degrees C; temp. during experiment is 25 degrees C. Experiments took place on 24-25 January 1985, on the middeck of space shuttle 'Discovery'. Subsequent results showed that red blood cells do not change shape under zero gravity; that aggregation of red cells does take place; that aggregates in pathologic blood show morphology of normal rouleaux under zero gravity, while identical blood shows clumps of red cells on the ground. The latter observation suggests that zero gravity might affect cell-to-cell interaction, and perhaps microstructure of the cell membrane. These aspects must remain however tentative till a confirmation by subsequent experiments can be obtained.
一个关于“红细胞聚集”的项目于1977年被美国国家航空航天局（NASA）批准。1979年至1984年期间设计了一种自动狭缝毛细管光粘度计，其最终版本符合NASA的太空危害要求。该仪器的“核心”是一组两块高度抛光的玻璃板，间隔为12.5微米。一个原始的鼓状输液泵最多可使用八个血样。在一个连续过程中，血液流经狭缝，然后停止流动以形成聚集体。进行微观和宏观摄影，获得500张照片。采集正常供体以及有缺血性心脏病、结肠癌、青少年型糖尿病、高脂血症等病史患者的血液，使用天然血浆进行抗凝并将血细胞比容调整至0.30。将样本分开，注入“飞行”和“地面”仪器中。实验前温度为5摄氏度；实验期间温度为25摄氏度。实验于1985年1月24日至25日在航天飞机“发现号”的中甲板上进行。后续结果表明，红细胞在零重力下不会改变形状；红细胞确实会发生聚集；病理性血液中的聚集体在零重力下呈现正常缗钱状形态，而相同的血液在地面上则显示为红细胞团块。后一观察结果表明，零重力可能会影响细胞间相互作用，也许还会影响细胞膜的微观结构。然而，在获得后续实验的证实之前，这些方面仍只能是推测性的。
