Abstract
It is known that red blood cell deformability may show colorful inter-species differences, influenced by inner viscosity, cell membrane viscosity, morphology and surface-volume ratio of the erythrocytes. It is also well-known that the cell volume is changing depending on the micro-environmental osmolarity. These changes can be well observable using osmotic gradient ektacytometry (osmoscan). Interestingly, there is a lack of base and comparative osmoscan data regarding the experimental/laboratory animal species. In this study mouse, rat, canine and porcine blood samples were analyzed using a LoRRca MaxSis Osmoscan ektacytometer. The highest elongation index values were found in mouse, typically above shear stress of 1 Pa. Some lower values than these were shown in rat and more lower in canine, while the lowest values were detected in porcine, typically above 3–5 Pa. The optimal osmolarity point value, so the measurable maximal EI osmolarity was in a wide range among the species. While the lowest values were detected in canine, the highest ones in porcine and mouse, the rat values were in between. Further analysis and wider comparison of the osmotic gradient ektacytometry may contribute to the better understanding of the erythrocyte micro-rheological properties, their induced changes and inter-species differences.