Affiliations: [a] Institute of Physiology, Rheinisch-Westfälische-Technische Hochschule Aachen, Germany | [b] Dépt. Génie Biologique, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, F 60205 Compiègne cedex, France
Note: [*] Reprint requests to: R. Flieger, Institute of Physiology, Klinikum RWTH-Aachen, PauwelsstraBe 30, D-52057 Aachen, GERMANY; Fax:+49/241 8888434; E-mail: flieger@physiology.rwth-aachen.de
Abstract: A new method for measuring erythrocyte membrane elasticity in physiological media is presented. Cells are loaded with well-defined centrifugal forces and the resulting change in shape is observed indirectly by laser diffractometry. Only a small amount of data has to be acquired and evaluated to follow up all the shape information contained in the diffraction pattern. This method has been proven using native and chemically altered cells (glutaraldehyde and diamide treatment). Advantages of the proposed method are the ease of handling, the small blood volume (10 µl) needed per measurement, a high sensitivity and the rational experimental setup.
