Abstract: Purpose of the study: To determine the effects of acetylcholine and SpermineNONOate – a NO donor – on RBC membrane and oxygen carrying properties. Material and methods: Aliquots of venous blood from eleven heathy subjects were incubated with ACh 10−3 M, ACh 10−5 M, SpermineNONOate 10−5 M and SpermineNONOate 10−4 M. The following parameters were determined: erythrocyte aggregation and deformability, hematocrit, plasma pH, osmolality, K+, Na+, Ca2+ concentrations, hemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin, carboxihemoglobin and methemoglobin concentrations, oxygen saturation of hemoglobin, oxygen and carbon dioxide parcial pressures and p50. Results: In presence of ACh there is an increase of erythrocyte deformability, decrease of erythrocyte aggregation, plasma pH, K+ and Na+ concentration, increase of Ca2+ concentration and p50. In presence of SpermineNONOate there an increase of erythrocyte deformability, plasma pH, decrease of Na+ and Ca2+ concentration, increase of metHb concentration and decrease of p50. Conclusion: Acetylcholine and SpermineNONOate are able to induce changes on RBC membrane and oxygen carrying properties.
