Examination of the filterability of oxygenated erythrocytes (containing normal, trait or sickle cell disease type hemoglobins) in the presence of L-epinephrine, D,L-isoproterenol or prostaglandins (PG) A1, A2, E1, E2, F1alpha or F2alpha.

These studies were directed toward determining effects of selected vasoactive compounds on oxygenated erythrocytes. Considering the major circulatory effects that small changes in blood flow might initiate in sickle cell anemia patients, erythrocytes from individuals with this disease and from one person with the trait condition were included. PGA1, PGE1, and PGE2 significantly increase filtration times in normal erythrocytes (AA-type hemoglobin) at 10(-11) M by this method. From studies of the effects of L-epinephrine, D,L-isoproterenol, PGA1, PGA2, PGE1, PGE2, PGF1alpha and PGF2alpha on red blood cell filterabilities, the following observations and conclusions appear to hold: (1) Erythrocytes from different individuals (or from the same individual at different times) vary greatly in responses to these compounds. Effects of vasoactive compounds upon red cell filterability may be positive, negligible or negative. Decreased filterability (positive effect) was seen more frequently than increased. (2) Effects are observed with all compounds on some erythrocyte preparation at every concentration tested (10(-5), 10(-7), 10(-9), 10(-11) M). (3) Where epinephrine showed significant positive effect, PGA2 and PGE2 did also when tested. The reverse was not always true. (4) For PGA and PGE analogs, the subscript 2 analogs affected filterability more frequently. (5) When significant average effects for a group of donors were produced by a given compound at a particular concentration, these effects were positive for the donors studied.