Platelet adhesion to fibrinogen-coated glass at an abrupt tubular expansion viewed with fluorescent video-microscopy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Crewe, K.H. | Feuerstein, I.A.^{; *}

Affiliations: Departments of Chemical Engineering and Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada L8S 4L7

Correspondence: [*] To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Note: [] Accepted by: Editor H.L. Goldsmith

Abstract: The adhesion and detachment of human washed platelets was studied on the surface of the larger tube of a tubular expansion. Measurements were made within the vortex, at the reattachment point and downstream of the vortex. Fluorescent video-microscopy of mepacrine labelled platelets was used to record data continuously. Flow was from the smaller to the larger tube at Reynolds numbers (based on upstream conditions) of 75.4 and 212.2. Measurements of the adhesion efficiency for initially contacting cells and an overall adhesion efficiency were made. These efficiencies decreased with increasing Reynolds number. There was a pattern of variability for both efficiencies with respect to position and Reynolds number which is consistent with the generation of the unstable flow at the reattachment point.

Keywords: fibrinogen, platelet adhesion, video-microscopy, vortex flow

DOI: 10.3233/BIR-1986-23502

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 23, no. 5, pp. 443-452, 1986