Studies in red blood cell preservation. 8. Liquid storage of red cells in a glycerol-containing additive solution.

The purpose of the present study was to determine whether a hypotonic additive containing a low concentration of glycerol as a membrane permeable solute would improve the liquid storage of red blood cells (RBCs). Packed RBCs were stored either with 200 ml of an experimental additive solution, EAS 25, containing (mM): glycerol 150, adenine 2, glucose 110, mannitol 55, and NaCl 50, or with 100 ml/unit of a conventional additive solution Adsol. The results show that the adenosine triphosphate values, hemolysis, potassium leakage, and the morphology scores of RBCs were significantly better with EAS 25 than with Adsol up to 84 days of storage. The ATP values were significantly different only after the first 42 days of storage. The mean corpuscular volumes (MCVs) of the RBCs were significantly higher throughout in the experimental additive accompanied by decreased microvesiculation as compared to Adsol. The total microvesicle membrane protein shed by 100 ml of RBCs was 47.92 +/- 12.31 mg in Adsol and 18.96 +/- 5.49 mg in EAS 25 (p < 0.001). The larger MCVs of the RBCs in EAS 25 may have a favorable effect on maintaining membrane integrity by decreasing the loss of membrane by microvesiculation.