Comparative study on the metabolism and filtrability of red blood cells of the calf and adult cattle.

Filtrability of calf and adult cattle red blood cells was studied to characterize their durability; to compare their metabolism, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase activity and ATP-content were determined. The activity of the enzymes declined gradually with age. The most pronounced decline of activity, particularly in the case of lactate dehydrogenase, was observed 6--8 weeks after birth. ATP content of calf red blood cells was ten times higher than that of the adult cattle, however, it proved to be less stable. Filtrability of fresh calf and adult cattle red blood cells was identical, while following incubation for 15--24 hours the decrease of filtrability was more pronounced in calf red blood cells indicating a lower filtrability and, consequently a shorter expected lifetime.