Cyclosporin A-Associated Changes in Red Blood Cell Membrane Composition, Deformability, Blood and Plasma Viscosity in Rats

Abstract

Most of the studies concerning the effects of cyclosporin A (Cs A) on red blood cell (RBC) rheology were carried out in human transplant recipients who may still have residual insufficiency and concomitant administration of other immunosuppressive and antihypertensive drugs. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Cs A on red cell rheology and membrane composition in nontransplant healthy rats. Female Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups of 10 animals each. Rats received 10 mg/kg Cs A, i.p. or saline for 4 weeks. Cs A administration significantly increased the RBC deformability, and plasma and blood viscosity (p < 0.001, p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). Cs A administration to the rats increased RBC membrane cholesterol (CHO) levels and the CHO/phospholipid (PL) ratio significantly (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively) but did not change RBC membrane proteins and membrane PL levels. These results suggest that Cs A changes the rheological functions of RBC and lipid content of RBC membrane in healthy rats and thereby it may play an important role in the regulation of microcirculation.

Total Erythrocyte Membrane Cholesterol

“…Erythrocyte aggregability increases in myocardial infarction, angina, inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke; adherence to endothelial cells increases in inflammation diabetes and stroke; deformability decreases in infarction, angina, inflammation, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke (26). Cholesterol erythrocyte membrane is a dynamic component of the erythrocyte membrane lipids that is subject to modifications associated with a variety of physiological, pathological, and pharmacologic conditions: it has been reported to increase with age (27), chronic alcohol assumption (28), obesity in women (29), pregnancyinduced hypertension (30), and after cyclosporine A administration (31). Cholesterol erythrocyte membrane decreases after exercise (32), in nephrotic syndrome (33), rheumatoid arthritis (34), and cerebral hemorrhage (35).…”